Selimiye Arasta Bazaar
It was built during the reign of Sultan Murat III to provide income for the Selimiye Mosque. It is 225 meters long, has 73 arches and 4 gates. It has undergone long-term restorations intermittently. There are 124 shops. Recently, Edirne has started to gain importance again in commercial life. Shops selling touristic goods are the majority. It is also a shopping point preferred by local and foreign tourists visiting Selimiye Mosque.
Arasta: It is defined as "the section where tradesmen doing the same business in the bazaars". Selimiye Arasta was built by Davut Aga, the journeyman of Sinan the Architect, during the reign of Sultan Murat III after the construction of the Selimiye Mosque in order to generate income for the Selimiye Mosque. One of the reasons for the construction of the Arasta is the need to support the Selimiye Mosque from the west and south.
Evliya Çelebi writes that this bazaar was reserved for kavafs, which means tradesmen who make and sell cheap, sloppy and vulgar kinds of shoes. For this reason, it is said to have been named Kavaflar Bazaar (or Haffaflar Bazaar, which is used in the same sense) over time.
The dome in the center of the building is known as the "Prayer Dome". It is so named because shop owners gather here every morning to swear and pray that they will do the right business. It is known that in its early days the bazaar was completely covered with lead, but this coating was consumed over time by using it for repair costs.
