The Edirne corporate trip is a full-day cultural programme in the second Ottoman capital, visiting the Selimiye Mosque, the Bayezid II Complex and the banks of the Meriç, with around seven hours spent in the city. Groups arriving by air are transferred by road from Istanbul Airport to Edirne, while groups travelling by vehicle meet in the city centre. The programme is prepared for department and project teams of 8-35 who want to see architecture and food culture on the same day.

What is in the programme?

The first and longest stop is the Selimiye Mosque, which Mimar Sinan called his "masterpiece" and which was completed in the last quarter of the 16th century; its dome scale, four slender minarets and İznik tiles are explained in the context of its UNESCO World Heritage status. The Old Mosque and the Üç Şerefeli Mosque are then viewed from outside, completing the line of development from early Ottoman architecture to Sinan. Lunch is the city's signature dish, pan-fried liver (tava ciğer).

In the afternoon the group visits the museum at the Bayezid II Complex on the banks of the Tunca, set in the darüşşifa founded at the end of the 15th century, where historical methods of care using the sound of water and music are explained. After the Edirne Museum or the Edirne Palace excavation site, there is a photo stop at the Meriç and Tunca bridges. Time permitting, the historic railway station at Karaağaç and the Lausanne Monument are visited; the day ends in the bazaar with a tasting of almond paste and white cheese.

Highlights

• A detailed, architecture-focused guided commentary at the Selimiye Mosque
• The museum at the Bayezid II darüşşifa, telling the story of Ottoman medical history
• Museum and site entry named in the programme included in the package
• Local food stops with pan-fried liver, almond paste and Edirne white cheese

Who Is It For?

It suits department and project teams of 8-35, and appeals to teams who want to see architecture, history and food culture together and make the most of a short day out of the city. The physical effort is light to moderate; the group moves between stops by vehicle, and walking is limited to the mosque and complex grounds.

Planning Notes

• As Edirne's airport is not open to commercial flights, participants flying in travel via Istanbul Airport, followed by a road journey of around 2.5 hours.
• Visits to the Selimiye are not planned during Friday midday prayers; modest clothing is required inside mosques.
• Flights, lunch, tastings and personal shopping are not included in the package.
• Spring and autumn are the best seasons; the city becomes very crowded during Kakava and Kırkpınar, so early planning is needed.