Selimiye Mosque, Nicosia
Gothic-style mosque in Northern Cyprus. / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Selimiye Mosque, Nicosia?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Selimiye Mosque (Greek: Τέμενος Σελιμιγιέ Témenos Selimigié; Turkish: Selimiye Camii), historically known as Cathedral of Saint Sophia or Ayasofya Mosque (Turkish: Ayasofya Camii), is a former Christian cathedral converted into a mosque, located in North Nicosia. It has historically been the main mosque on the island of Cyprus.[1] The Selimiye Mosque is housed in the largest and oldest surviving Gothic church in Cyprus (interior dimensions: 66 X 21 m) possibly constructed on the site of an earlier Byzantine church.
| Selimiye Mosque | |
|---|---|
Τέμενος Σελιμιγιέ / Selimiye Camii | |
 View of Selimiye Mosque (former St. Sophia Cathedral) from Shacolas Tower (Ledra Street Observatory) in Nicosia, Cyprus | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam (1570–present) |
| District | Lefkoşa District (de facto) Nicosia District (de jure) |
| Year consecrated | 1326 |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | North Nicosia |
| State |  Northern Cyprus (de facto) Cyprus (de jure) |
  The location of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Cyprus Show map of Cyprus Selimiye Mosque, Nicosia (North Nicosia) Show map of North Nicosia | |
| Geographic coordinates | 35.1765°N 33.3645°E / 35.1765; 33.3645 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1209 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 2500 |
| Minaret(s) | 2 |
In total, the mosque has a capacity to hold 2500 worshipers with 1,750 m2 (18,800 sq ft) available for worship.[2] It is the largest surviving historical building in Nicosia, and according to sources, it "may have been the largest church built in the Eastern Mediterranean in the millennium between the rise of Islam and the late Ottoman period".[3] It was the coronation church of the kings of Cyprus.