Edirne is a city in Thrace, the westernmost part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. The city was known in English until after the First World War as Adrianople.

The city was founded by the Roman Emperor Hadrian on the site of a previous Thracian settlement known as Uskadama, Uskudama or Uskodama. Conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1362, the city served as the Ottoman capital from 1365 until 1453. Edirne is now the capital of Edirne Province.

The Selimiye Mosque, built by Sultan Selim II in 1575 and designed by Ottoman master architect Sinan, has the highest minarets in Turkey, at 70.9 meters.

The area around Edirne has been the site of no fewer than 15 major battles or sieges, from the days of the ancient Greeks. In particular, the catastrophic defeat of the Roman Emperor Valens by the Visigoths took place nearby, and the city was a vital fortress defending Ottoman Constantinople and Eastern Thrace during the Balkan Wars of 1912-13. The city was, however, occupied by the Russians in 1829 and 1878, and by the Bulgarians in 1912.

Edirne is famous of its "liver in oil", white cheese and "fruit shaped soaps". Every June, there is an oil-wrestling festival called Kirkpinar. Kirkpinar has been held every year since 1346 and is the oldest annual sporting event in the world.

The city initially took its name after its founder, and the usage remains current in Greek, The Turks, however, have commonly used Edirne (now the official and customary name) or Edreneh, and the Slavs Odrin or Jedren; all of these are probably adapted forms of the original name.

07.00 - 10.00 Transfer to Edirne
Edirne is vibrant, exciting, sensual, hard, European and Oriental at the same time. For a while it was the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The approach to Edirne is along the E80 from Istanbul is spectacular for much of the way, the road passes through dank bogland where sedge-rimmed pools reflect a pallid sky. In the early evening, you may be rewarded by the sight of a livid, apocalyptic sunset like those found in the canvases of some medieval German painters.

10.00 - 12.00 Edirne sightseeing
Eski Camii, was built of cut stone and brick 1402-14 with fine white marble portal and decorative calligraphy on the interior walls and pillars. Üç Serefeli Camii, the name of the mosque derived from the three balconies on the southeast minaret. Each balcony is reached by a separate stairway. The decorative tile designs on the minarets are all different. The minarets were the most important development in the structure of the mosque in the fifteenth century.

Selimiye Mosque Edirne's crowning glory, was built for Selim II, (1566-74) by Sinan who was the architect of the Abode of Felicity for 50 years. It was the masterpiece of Sinan's old age. The symmetrical design strongly emphasised by the four minarets and the soaring rise of the central dome.

12.00 - 13.00 Lunch break
Semiz Ali Pasa Arasta is also the work of Sinan. Completed in 1589, it is a long tunnel-like building with shops on both sides. Here you may buy one of Edirne's specialities, soap shaped like fruit or vegetables.
Meric bridge (New Bridge) constructed at the junction of Meriç and Arda rivers between 1842 - 1847.

Kule Kapisi (12 C Tower Gate) is all that remains of the tower which once protected the principal gate of the citadel. It was rebuilt by the Byzantine emperor John Comnenus II (1118-43) as part of his repair of the Hadrianic defensive system.

Beyazit Kulliyesi is the largest in Edirne, the complex had a mosque and an hospital which was famous for the skill of its surgeons. In the octogonal, domed timarhane the insane were treated by musical therapy.

15.30 - 18.30 Transfer to Istanbul.

Tour Includes
o 1 lunch
o Entrance fees
o English-speaking tour guide
o Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach

Tour does not include
o Flight tickets