At
8 am, UTS-United Travel’s English
speaking private lecturer/guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel in
Istanbul for departure by a/c vehicle to the city of Edirne
(approx. 2,5 – 3 hours, driving distance from IST) - a historical rich town
whose architecture reflects its fascinating historical heritage. Situated in
between the Greek and Bulgarian border of Turkey, Edirne is an untouched gem of
our mosaic of cultures. It is Turkey’s “Best-Kept Secret”, a fabulous town
where one can walk from the masterpiece of one architectural era of the Ottoman
Empire to the local lifestyle of modern times.
The
city was founded in the II century by Hadrian as Hadrianopolis. The Ottomans
captured it from the Byzantines in 1363 and established their capital city
moving it from the previous capital of Bursa.
In Edirne,
the Eski (Old) Mosque (1414) is a
perfect square in architectural style divided into nine domed sections by four
massive piers. It is very Seljuk in
character and is an elaborate version of the Ulu Mosque in Bursa, famous
for its huge works of calligraphy- The Uc
Serefeli Mosque (1447) replaced the Eski Mosque, as Edirne’s chief place of
worship as soon as it was completed. Its dome of 79 feet was the largest built
by the Ottomans up to that time.
To
impart a sense of space, the architect used only two freestanding columns,
burying the four others of his hexagon in the walls - a major innovation of the
time.
In
addition to numerous mosques, fountains, bridges, schools, hospitals from the
rise of the Ottoman Empire, in the 13th century, the very masterpiece of Ottoman Civilization, the ‘Selimiye Mosque’ is built
here in Edirne and not in Istanbul. This grand edifice is one of the supreme
human achievements in the whole history of architecture in the world. It is the
last masterpiece of the Ottoman
Architect Sinan that he built at the age of 85 as his last gift to the
world of Ottoman Culture.
Lunch
will be served at a celebrated local restaurant with its special & famous
Turkish dishes, exclusive to “Edirne cuisine”.
Continue
to visit the Rustem Pasa Caravanserai
and the lively restored Arasta Bazaar
and Bedesten Bazaar, for local
souvenirs.
As
the highlight of the day, visit the Grand
Synagogue of Edirne, which is the biggest Sephardic Synagogue in the whole
region of the Balkans, (The 3nd largest synagogue of Europe.) that was restored
by the Republic of Turkey-Foundations’ General Directorate, in 5 years and opened to public visit on 26 March 2015,
with a major celebration attended by the Turkish Prime Minister’s Delegation
and the Chief Rabbi of Turkey together with his congregation from Istanbul.
As
for the historical background of the majestic EDIRNE Synagogue, the 1903 the Great Fire of Edirne destroyed more
than 1,500 houses and also damaged several synagogues in the city. The
twenty-thousand strong Jewish communities there needed urgently a place of
worship. Following the support of the Ottoman Empire Government and the Edict of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, the
construction of a new synagogue began on
January 6, 1906 at the site of the ruined synagogues in Edirne. It was
designed by the French architect France
Depré in the architectural model of Sephardi
Leopoldstädter Tempel in Vienna, Austria, at the Cost 1,200 gold coins. It
was opened to service on the eve of Pesach
(Passover) in April 1909. The Synagogue can accommodate up to 1,200
visitors at once today, in Turkey.
At
the end of your private tour, you will be driven back to your hotel in
Istanbul, escorted by your dedicated bilingual guide, with fond memories of
your day in Edirne.
To book this tour, please contact UTS – Turkey Team