Selimiye Mosque

Edirne, Türkiye

Mimar Sinan's self-declared masterpiece — the mosque he considered his greatest achievement. Its dome surpasses that of Hagia Sophia in diameter, fulfilling the Ottoman quest to exceed Byzantine architectural limits.

Historical Context

Sinan built the Selimiye in his 80s, having spent decades perfecting his dome construction technique through the Şehzade, Süleymaniye, and other mosques. The mosque is located in Edirne, the former Ottoman capital, rather than Istanbul.