Hotels near Selimiye Mosque

Selimiye Mosque is the most striking building in Nicosia's skyline - a 13th-century French Gothic cathedral with two Ottoman minarets bolted to its facade. Originally built as the Cathedral of Saint Sophia between 1209 and 1326 by the Lusignan dynasty, it was where the Lusignan kings of Cyprus were crowned. After the Ottoman conquest in 1570, the interior was whitewashed, the stained glass replaced, a mihrab added, and the two minarets erected. The result is one of the most architecturally unusual mosques in the world.

The Selimiye Mosque interior retains the Gothic pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, and soaring nave of the original cathedral. The floor is covered with prayer carpets, and the whitewashed walls give the space an austere beauty. Entry is free and visitors are welcome outside prayer times - remove shoes and dress modestly (scarves available at the entrance). The mosque is 300 metres north of Buyuk Han, so you can visit both in one walk.

Pro Tip: Visit between prayers (check times posted at the entrance) and look up at the ceiling vaulting - the Gothic stonework is far more impressive from inside than the exterior suggests.