Lily Jay Visist Selimiye Mosque in Cyprus

During my recent visit to North Cyprus, I stepped into one of the island’s most extraordinary landmarks: the Selimiye Mosque in Lefkoşa. It’s a place where history, faith, and architecture blend in a way that almost stops time.

Walking up to it, you immediately feel the weight of centuries. The towering structure, originally built as the Cathedral of Saint Sophia in the 13th century, still carries the unmistakable aura of a grand medieval church. When the Ottomans took control in the 16th century, it was beautifully transformed into a mosque, and incredibly, both identities still live inside its walls.

Inside, the light filters through tall Gothic windows, casting soft colour across the prayer hall. The arches, the stone columns, and the delicate tracery all remain from its cathedral days, giving the entire space a unique character unlike any mosque I’ve ever entered. Even though it’s now a place of Muslim worship, it warmly preserves the essence of its past.

And that’s what moved me most.

There is something deeply spiritual about seeing how this building has survived wars, empires, and centuries of change, yet still brings people together in worship and peace. Standing on the same stone floor where generations before us prayed, hoped, and rebuilt their lives felt incredibly humbling.

North Cyprus is full of hidden gems, but Selimiye Mosque is a treasure that tells a story all on its own.A story of transformation.A story of resilience.A story of beauty that transcends time.

If you ever visit Cyprus, this mosque-cathedral is a must-see. Whether you come for history, architecture, or spiritual reflection, Selimiye will touch your heart just as it touched mine.