Selimiye Mosque (Saint Sophia Cathedral)

09/03/2018 12:04

68, Selimiye Square, Kuyumcular Street, Nicosia
Opening times : Pazartesi - Cuma | 08:00 - 18:00
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Selimiye Mosque (Turkish: Selimiye Camii; Greek: Τέμενος Σελιμιγιέ), historically known as the Cathedral of Saint Sophia, is a former Roman Catholic cathedral converted into a mosque, located in North Nicosia. It is the main mosque of the city. The Selimiye Mosque is housed in the largest and oldest surviving Gothic church in Cyprus (interior dimensions: 66 X 21 m). In total, the mosque has a capacity to hold 2500 worshipers with 1750 m2 available for worship.

On the south side of the mosque there is a Greek church built in the Byzantine and mediaeval styles. It is called The Bedestan, meaning covered market, and this it was, until the municipal market moved to the other side of the road. The Bedestan is an ancient monument and the interior has many fallen marble and granite columns, probably Roman, and it shows that the Bedestan was once a much larger church. Looking around the church, one can still see the effects of the severe earthquakes of centuries ago. The guide will show you a vaulted room full of mediaeval tombstones, which of the coats of arms of crusader knights. The best photograph is taken on the northern side of the Gothic door. It is a good example of French mediaeval stone carving.

Bedesten, Nicosia

Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org