Selimiye Mosque
Selimiye Mosque
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4.0
696 reviews
Excellent
284
Very good
261
Average
114
Poor
21
Terrible
16
FTMDave
Adria, Italy6,794 contributions
Jul 2021
Impressive mosque. Due to whichever power was dominating at the time, it was common in the area for Christian churches to be converted into Muslim mosques - or vice versa. In fact this used to be a Catholic cathedral as is obvious from the construction, but has huge minarets added.
Written August 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Severine B
Ghent, Belgium347 contributions
Feb 2020
Very strange construction. If you look at tho bottom, you expect to see a common church, but the towers are replaced by minarets. Very strange. If you take off your shoos, you can go inside. If you were already in a mosque, you know there is not much to see on the inside besides a huge carpet, so I didn't bother to go in.
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Micutzu-103
Bucharest, Romania717 contributions
Dec 2019
The mosque is a former christian church transformed by the Turkish but still preserving the architecture.
It is big and very beautiful and nicely complete the old Turkish town of Nicosia.
It worth visiting along with buyuc han and bazaar.
It is big and very beautiful and nicely complete the old Turkish town of Nicosia.
It worth visiting along with buyuc han and bazaar.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizabeth V
Bognor Regis, UK764 contributions
Feb 2020
This used to be the Roman Catholic cathedral - St Sophia Cathedral. It was converted during the Ottomon takeover to a Mosque but, interestingly, they retained a lot of the christian features, such as the popes and saints on the arch over the doorway. The mosque is beautiful and requires time to appreciate and absorb. The Koran is alos very lovely, although a relatively modern one. Northern Cyprus has many such conversions of the old churches, but this is one of the best.
Written March 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
laczkozsu
Debrecen, Hungary1,683 contributions
Apr 2022
On the Turkish side we wanted to visit this mosque, but unfortunatelly it’s closed because of renovation. We would like to come back after reopening it. Originally it was built aa a Gothic church, and the kings of Cyprus were crowned here. It was called St. Sophia Cathedral until 1954. Nowadays it’s the main mosque of Nicosia.
Written April 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Larnaca, Cyprus3,210 contributions
Sep 2019 • Family
It was previously a cathedral of ayia Sofia. It is beautifully decorated but needs definitely renovation and also the surroundings.
Written September 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian T
London, UK6,782 contributions
Aug 2019
It many respects it’s a bit of a bizarre sight as you make your way along the narrow Arasta Sokak, battling your way through shopkeepers attempting to promote their latest goods and mobs of clothes-hungry people putting in their finest efforts to haggle down the price of those fake designer T-shirts and handbags. You’ll see minarets looming from what appears to be a gothic cathedral, with the flags of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus flying in-between. And if you have no idea of the history of this incredible building, you’ll probably think it’s all a bit odd and unusual. Why, behind the soaring minarets which pierce skyline, does this Islamic place of worship look so much like a Christian cathedral? The answer is simple: it used to be one!
It was built between 1208 and 1326 as the Roman Catholic St Sophia’s Cathedral, and at that time was the largest gothic church in Cyprus. It was adapted into a mosque after the Ottoman invasion in the 1570s by the addition of the two impressive minarets. Such conversions of non-Muslim places of worship into a mosque are certainly not unique.
Standing in front of the building you’ll see the beautiful three-pointed gothic-arched entrance, with a spectacular central doorway, though statuary and stained glass windows have been removed. Inside you’ll see plain white walls and columns, disguising the decorated gothic stonework. The interior space is bright and simple, but it’s quite vast, holding up to 2,500 worshippers (it’s Lefkoşa’s biggest mosque). The interior alignment has been slightly reoriented towards Mecca.
You are able to visit if prayers are not taking place, but you will need to adhere to the appropriate customs with removal of shoes and appropriate coverings. If prayers are taking place, just stand and appreciate the magnificence of the building from the courtyard or street in front of it
It was one of the highlights of my visit to Lefkoşa, and a ‘must-see’ for the visitor.
It was built between 1208 and 1326 as the Roman Catholic St Sophia’s Cathedral, and at that time was the largest gothic church in Cyprus. It was adapted into a mosque after the Ottoman invasion in the 1570s by the addition of the two impressive minarets. Such conversions of non-Muslim places of worship into a mosque are certainly not unique.
Standing in front of the building you’ll see the beautiful three-pointed gothic-arched entrance, with a spectacular central doorway, though statuary and stained glass windows have been removed. Inside you’ll see plain white walls and columns, disguising the decorated gothic stonework. The interior space is bright and simple, but it’s quite vast, holding up to 2,500 worshippers (it’s Lefkoşa’s biggest mosque). The interior alignment has been slightly reoriented towards Mecca.
You are able to visit if prayers are not taking place, but you will need to adhere to the appropriate customs with removal of shoes and appropriate coverings. If prayers are taking place, just stand and appreciate the magnificence of the building from the courtyard or street in front of it
It was one of the highlights of my visit to Lefkoşa, and a ‘must-see’ for the visitor.
Written August 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann P
Nicosia, Cyprus19 contributions
Apr 2018 • Solo
Desecration of church
Sad reality o f Turkish invasion, complete destruction of Greek Cypriot heritage
Avoid seeing this at all costs.
Stay in the safe area of Cyprus, visiting the occupied area has risks .
Sad reality o f Turkish invasion, complete destruction of Greek Cypriot heritage
Avoid seeing this at all costs.
Stay in the safe area of Cyprus, visiting the occupied area has risks .
Written November 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
simone_sdc
Nicosia, Cyprus31 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
The cathedral was built centuries ago, but the architecture is amazing. Even though it was converted into a mosque, it remains breathtaking!
Need to remove your shoes to enter but well worth it if you’re visiting Nicosia
Need to remove your shoes to enter but well worth it if you’re visiting Nicosia
Written January 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
traveller281
Scotland224 contributions
Nov 2019
We had passed over the border & decided to pay a visit and we are glad that we did. It once was Catholic but now a mosque and you can visit ( ladies please remember to dress appropriately - but there are headscarves you can borrow to cover your head) It's a beautiful building and very welcoming - calming as well inside.
Written November 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob R
Philadelphia, PA14 contributions
When will the renovations be finished and the mosque open?
KateToo
London7 contributions
Hi Are The Lusignan House, Agia Sofia / Selimiye Mosque , Great Han etc
The Gamblers' Inn , Dervis Pasa Mansion open on Saturdays & Sundays?
Deniz C
Greater Sydney, Australia135 contributions
Hi Kate, when I was in North Cyprus few months ago I have not encountered any problems with opening and closing hours of main tourist attractions. Universal rules apply.
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Claim your listingSelimiye Mosque - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Selimiye Mosque
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Selimiye Mosque:
- FAMAGUSTA & NICOSIA Private Tour from Kyrenia (From $160.78)
- Highlights of Nicosia from Paphos (From $54.33)
- Explore Nicosia in 1 hour with a Local (From $65.42)
- Divided Capital NICOSIA (From $210.67)
- Highlights of Nicosia from Aphrodite Hills Resort (From $54.33)
- Hotels near Selimiye Mosque:
- (0.02 mi) Sabor Residence
- (0.17 mi) Aksaray Hotel
- (0.17 mi) Baskent Pansiyon
- (0.18 mi) Saray Hotel
- (0.54 mi) Map Boutique Hotel
- Restaurants near Selimiye Mosque:
- (0.02 mi) Old Mosaic
- (0.02 mi) Araf Cafe Bar
- (0.03 mi) Ozerlat Cafe
- (0.03 mi) Sham Food
- (0.05 mi) El Sabor Latino