Wrestling fans who couldn't find room in hotels in Edirne slept in the open air

Wrestling enthusiasts from all over Türkiye began to stay in the areas surrounding the Selimiye Mosque.

Some visitors settled around the mosque from the night before, sleeping in tents they set up, while others slept on cardboards they laid out.

Wrestling enthusiasts woke up with the sunrise and had their breakfast in the same area.

Photo: Özgün Tiran/AA

Wrestling fans go to the field during the day and have a good time chatting on the mats under the stars in the evenings.

Citizens, who call this area "Free Palace" among themselves, state that they will stay in the parks and gardens until the last day of the wrestling competition.

Coming from Manisa, Nevzat Bozca told AA correspondent that Edirne is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Bozca, who stated that he came to watch Kırkpınar for the first time, said, "It was our dream, it was the first time it happened. We come from a family that loves wrestling. Hopefully, it will happen next year, we want to come. It doesn't really matter where you stay after coming here, other than the love of Kırkpınar forcing us to stay in the tent."

Mustafa Kırık from Sakarya said that he has been coming to Edirne to watch wrestling since 1982.

Salih Tonga, who came from the Korkuteli district of Antalya, said that Kırkpınar was "a devoted spectator who would even sleep on a stone."

Tonga said that they left their jobs and came here and said:

"Not everyone gets to sit and pray in the shade of Selimiye, in its courtyard. Kırkpınar is truly a history for us, Edirne is like that. I came for the first time, my brothers always came. I always had a regret, God made it happen this time. But this place is really worth it. There is no job without effort. We had breakfast in the shade of Selimiye in the morning, that has a different beauty. The spirituality of this place is very high."