The Selimiye Mosque and its Minarets, North Nicosia
The front porch is as grand an entrance as ever graced a European cathedral, with fine carvings all around the three doors. The west window dominates the façade, although the twin towers designed to match this window were never completed. Ever resourceful, the invading Ottoman used the tower bases to add two minarets to their newly-converted mosque. Right up until 1959, the muezzin had to climb 170 steps five times every day to call the faithful to prayer; now a recorded message and loudspeaker do the work instead! You can still see the minarets towering above the old city buildings from across North Nicosia.
Inside the Selimiye Camii, the plain interior gives a spacious and serene feel to this grand building. The original cathedral features have been carefully reused, such that the old lady chapel now contains the mithrab that orientates the mosque towards Mecca.
The best views of the mosque’s south wall and its impressive flying buttresses are from the café housed in the former Chapter House. It’s a lovely place to rest your feet and have a cool, drink after a hard day’s sightseeing on your North Cyprus holiday.
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