The Saray-ı Cedid-i Amire — the New Palace — was the principal imperial residence of the Ottoman sultans when Edirne served as the empire's capital in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, and it remained a major summer palace for successive sultans for centuries afterward. At its height, the complex covered the entire island between the Tunca and Meriç rivers and contained throne rooms, pavilions, kitchens, baths, stables, and extensive gardens. It was, by the accounts of European visitors who saw it in its prime, one of the grandest royal complexes in the world.
Today, the ruins are a sobering experience. The site has been partially excavated and some foundations are visible, but the scale of what has been lost is more impressive than what remains. The Tower of Justice (Cihannüma) still stands to a significant height and gives a good sense of the original construction quality. A small museum on the site displays finds from the excavations. The setting on the island between the two rivers is beautiful, and the walk out from the city centre along the Tunca riverbank makes the destination feel properly removed from everyday Edirne.