Alaca Imaret Mosque, Thessaloniki
The Alaca Imaret Mosque, also known as the Ishak Pasha Mosque, is a mosque from the 15th century under Ottoman rule. According to an inscription found at its entrance, the mosque was established in February 1484 by the command of Inogiolou Ishak Pasha, who served as the Grand Vizier during the reigns of Mohammed II and Bayezid II.
Besides its primary function as a place of worship, the mosque also housed facilities such as an imaret, a public charity kitchen, and a medrese, a religious school. By the 17th century, the Alaca Imaret had risen to prominence and became one of the city's notable institutions.
The mosque follows the architectural style typical of early Ottoman structures, featuring an inverted T-shape layout with a central area, two large domes, side chambers on the western side, and a colonnaded portico with five smaller domes. Historically, the central space was designated for prayers, while the surrounding areas were utilized for educational activities and communal meals. Inside, a significant arch divides the space into two square sections, each covered by a dome.
Originally, the mosque boasted lavish interior decoration including murals adorning the domes and walls, along with Quranic inscriptions. The name "Alaja Imaret" derives from the colorful, rhomboid-shaped stones (ala莽a) that once embellished the mosque's minaret. Unfortunately, the minaret was destroyed after Thessaloniki was recaptured by the Greeks in 1912, leaving only its base intact.
In 1970, following the collapse of the northern part of the portico, maintenance works commenced for the first time. Further restoration efforts took place between 1993 and 1996, focusing on the intricate external masonry among other tasks. Presently, the municipality of Thessaloniki owns the building, which no longer serves as a mosque but instead functions as an exhibition space.
Besides its primary function as a place of worship, the mosque also housed facilities such as an imaret, a public charity kitchen, and a medrese, a religious school. By the 17th century, the Alaca Imaret had risen to prominence and became one of the city's notable institutions.
The mosque follows the architectural style typical of early Ottoman structures, featuring an inverted T-shape layout with a central area, two large domes, side chambers on the western side, and a colonnaded portico with five smaller domes. Historically, the central space was designated for prayers, while the surrounding areas were utilized for educational activities and communal meals. Inside, a significant arch divides the space into two square sections, each covered by a dome.
Originally, the mosque boasted lavish interior decoration including murals adorning the domes and walls, along with Quranic inscriptions. The name "Alaja Imaret" derives from the colorful, rhomboid-shaped stones (ala莽a) that once embellished the mosque's minaret. Unfortunately, the minaret was destroyed after Thessaloniki was recaptured by the Greeks in 1912, leaving only its base intact.
In 1970, following the collapse of the northern part of the portico, maintenance works commenced for the first time. Further restoration efforts took place between 1993 and 1996, focusing on the intricate external masonry among other tasks. Presently, the municipality of Thessaloniki owns the building, which no longer serves as a mosque but instead functions as an exhibition space.
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Alaca Imaret Mosque on Map
Sight Name: Alaca Imaret Mosque
Sight Location: Thessaloniki, Greece (See walking tours in Thessaloniki)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Thessaloniki, Greece (See walking tours in Thessaloniki)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Thessaloniki, Greece
Create Your Own Walk in Thessaloniki
Creating your own self-guided walk in Thessaloniki is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Thessaloniki Waterfront Tour
The Mediterranean has always been an integral part of Thessaloniki鈥檚 appeal. The city's orientation toward the sea is largely due to the vision of Ernest H茅brard, the French urban planner and architect, who redesigned the downtown area after the devastating fire of 1917.
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
To really get the taste of Thessaloniki you need to visit not just its historical landmarks, but also those spots... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Thessaloniki Upper Town Walking Tour
Thessaloniki's Upper Town (Ano Poli) is the most ancient part of the city, aged approximately 2,300 years. Being also the highest part of Thessaloniki, dominated by the Acropolis with the Byzantine-/Ottoman-era fort known as Heptapyrgion (Eptapyrgio), from here on a clear day you can see way across the gulf, as far as Mount Olympus, some 80 km (50 miles) away, towering over the horizon in all... view more
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Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
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Thessaloniki is Greece's second-largest city as well as its second major political, industrial, commercial, and economic center.
Historically, Thessaloniki co-ruled the Byzantine Empire along with Constantinople. But its history goes back even further than that. Cassander of Macedon originally founded the city in 315 BC. Cassander named the city after his wife, Thessalonike. Thessalonike... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Historically, Thessaloniki co-ruled the Byzantine Empire along with Constantinople. But its history goes back even further than that. Cassander of Macedon originally founded the city in 315 BC. Cassander named the city after his wife, Thessalonike. Thessalonike... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles