Museum sights in Edirne
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A
Museum of Health
Part of the Sultan Bayezid II Külliyesi complex, this museum has scooped European tourism awards for its illustrations of the therapy and teaching that took place here. One of the most important Ottoman hospitals, it operated from 1488 to 1909, and music therapy was employed from 1652 – when mentally ill people were still being burnt alive in Europe. A 10-piece band played different 'modes' to treat ailments from paralysis to palpitations. Because all healing work was carried out in one room (the şifahane – healing room), the hospital required fewer staff. This created the first centralised hospital system. The sound of water was also used, and the gurgling fountain i…
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B
Urban History Museum
Housed in the restored Hafızağa Mansion, a particularly fine 19th-century wooden Ottoman villa, the small new Urban History Museum has poster displays on Edirne's historic buildings, local governors, and some old postcards. As there are currently no English captions it's not an essential stop for visitors, but the house itself is nice and offers great views onto the west side of the Selimiye Mosque (across a car park).
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C
Erdine Museum
Erdine Museum is opposite the Selimiye Camii to the north, with a garden of gravestones in front. The grounds contain all kinds of jars, sculptures, dolmens and menhirs (standing stones), as well as replicas of the sort of wattle-and-daub huts that may have been used by Thrace's Stone Age inhabitants.
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D
Contemporary Art & Sculpture Museum
Housed in the beautiful Ikinci Beyazit Külliyesi complex is the Contemporary Art & Sculpture Museum which, while not wildly exciting, is worth a quick look to see what sort of thing the local talent is turning out.
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E
Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum
One of the Selimiye Mosque's medreses (seminaries) houses the Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum, which has a variety of stone inscriptions and early Ottoman artefacts, plus a display on oil wrestling.
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F
Edirne Archaeology & Ethnography Museum
Facing a garden of janissary gravestones behind the Selimiye Camii, this museum focuses on local history and traditional products, with displays covering embroidery, textiles, calligraphy and jewellery. The Ottoman technique of lacquering wood, cardboard and leather was developed in Edirne. There are several reconstructions of Ottoman houses, including bridal and circumcision rooms.
The archaeological section features exhibits from prehistory, with finds from the Macedonian Tower and the Taşlıcabayır tumulus near Kırklareli to the east. The terracotta sarcophagi (6th century BC) from Enez (Aenus) in southwest Thrace; the 1st- and 2nd-century terracotta figures; and the bro…
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