The impressive Hamza Bey Mosque, otherwise known as the Alcazar, will be ready to be handed over to the city of Thessaloniki in the first half of 2026, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said after a visit and inspection of the restoration work being carried out on the monument on Monday.
Mendoni was briefed on the complex and demanding project, given that the monument has been subjected to significant wear and tear and changes through interventions at various periods in time.
After inspecting the project, Mendoni stated: “This demonstrates the importance we attach to the monuments and the centuries-old history of Thessaloniki, which are gradually being returned to the citizens, repaired and enhanced, offering a completely different image of the city.”
The Hamza Bey Mosque, in the city center, at the intersection of Egnatia and Venizelou streets, in the immediate vicinity of the northern entrance of the Metropolitan Railway station, is the oldest Islamic house of prayer in Thessaloniki.
It was built in 1467 by the daughter of the military commander Hamza Bey. It was one of the first mosques constructed after the Ottoman conquest of Thessaloniki in 1430, making it an important symbol of the city’s transformation.
The mosque was rebuilt and expanded in 1620, incorporating a large central dome and an arcade with smaller domes, a typical feature of Ottoman religious architecture. During the 20th century, after Thessaloniki became part of Greece in 1912, the mosque was no longer used for religious purposes.
It was converted into a cinema called the Alcazar, which is how many locals came to know it.
Over the years, it suffered from neglect, partial demolitions, and modifications that altered its original form.
The Mosque has been protected under archaeological law as a historical and archaeological monument since 1926.
“The restoration of the Alcazar is progressing according to schedule. Its restoration will give the city another emblematic monument. Our goal is to complete the project and return the monument to the city within the first half of 2026,” Mendoni added.
According to the announcement of the Ministry of Culture, the project is progressing well and rapidly, both to the interior and exterior of the monument, including work to protect its structural integrity and to preserve its interior decorative elements.
Thessaloniki, under Ottoman rule from 1430 to 1912, retains several important Ottoman-era buildings, despite many being repurposed or demolished over time.
Yeni Mosque, built for the city’s Donmeh (Jewish converts to Islam) in 1902, is one of the last Ottoman mosques constructed in Thessaloniki. Last year, hundreds of faithful gathered at the Yeni Mosque for the Eid Muslim prayers after its opening for the first time in more than 100 years in Greece.
Other Mosques in Thessaloniki include the Alaca Imaret Mosque (15th century), commissioned by İshak Paşa, which also served as a soup kitchen (imaret). And the small mosque, Hortacı Süleyman Efendi Mosque (16th century) located in the Ladadika district of the Greek city.
