The Old Mosque (Edirne)

The Old Mosque (Eski Cami) is the oldest monumental building that has survived to modern times in the city. The construction began during the Ottoman Empire's Interregnum period by Sultan Suleyman Celebi and was completed 11 years later by Sultan Mehmed I. The Ottoman Sultans II. Ahmed and II. Mustafa held sword-wielding ceremonies here. As a tradition, imams (Islamic leaders of prayers) do not use the preaching chair to respect the memory of Ottoman poet Sufi Haci Bayram Veli, who preached here once. The mosque was harmed by fire in 1749 and an earthquake in 1752 but restored in 1924–1934.