Hamza Bey Mosque “Alcázar”
Hamza Bey Mosque “Alcázar”
Hamza Bey Mosque “Alcázar”
The mosque was founded in 1467–1468 by the Ottoman military commander Hamza Bey in honor of his daughter Hafsa Hatun. The monument was built as a small, square prayer hall (mesjid) with a dome. In the mid- to late 16th century, the building was significantly expanded with the addition of a minaret and a large colonnaded courtyard (atrium), taking the form of a large mosque to meet the needs of the growing population. It is the first mosque that was built and operated as such in Thessaloniki, after the city was occupied by the Ottomans (1430).
The Hamza Bey Mosque is the only one in the Balkans to feature an atrium, with the exception of the mosques in Adrianople and Constantinople, which were capitals of the empire and seats of the sultanate. It is the only mosque with a portico whose founder was not a sultan, as it was an unwritten privilege of the Ottoman sultans to have colonnaded courtyards in their mosques. The square, domed hall, 17 m high, is illuminated by eight arched windows and a circular skylight. Twenty-two marble columns with 15 capitals dating from the early Christian period (5th–6th centuries) support the colonnades surrounding the atrium. The building ceased to function as a mosque after the liberation of Thessaloniki (1912). The mosque has undergone many changes throughout its long history. Refugees found shelter within its walls, and traces of their lives remain, such as the conversion of the entrance to the loft of the prayer hall into a fireplace. Other areas were converted into shops, while the most significant alteration was the transformation of the courtyard into the “Alkazar” movie theater—initially open-air and later enclosed by the installation of a roof over the courtyard.
For decades, the monument’s current state of deterioration was due to a number of factors and was further aggravated by the 1978 earthquake. From 2007 onwards, various documentation, stabilization, restoration, and conservation works were undertaken to protect the monument. Ιn 2023, the restoration project of the Hamza Bey Mosque was included in the Recovery and Resilience Facility. As part of the restoration interventions, the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Thessaloniki undertook the supervision and documentation of the archaeological excavations. The restoration and conservation works were undertaken by the Directorate for the Restoration of Byzantine and Post-byzantine Monuments and the Directorate of Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments of the Ministry of Culture.
The monument now holds a new identity as a cultural space, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, MOMUS and the Ephorate of Antiquities City of Thessaloniki.
Contact Details
Address: 49, Egnatia Av, 54631, Thessaloniki
Telephone: (+30) 2310 589141
E-mail: [email protected]
Facebook: MOMUSMuseums
Instagram: momus_museums
VISITING INSTRUCTIONS
Time schedule
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
10:00-18:00
Wednesday
10:00-18:00
Thursday
10:00-18:00
Friday
10:00-18:00
Saturday
10:00-18:00
Sunday
10:00-18:00
General Admission
5.00 €
Students | Visitors 12 to 25 years of age | Visitors 65 years of age and over
3.00 €
The following categories of visitors are entitled to Free Admission
Visitors with disabilities and person accompanying them | Families with three children – Families with many children | Children (under 12 years old) | Students of Higher Educational Institutions in Fine Arts, History & Archaeology, Architecture, Fine Arts Conservation, Tourist Guide Education | Professors of History of Art, Architecture, Fine Arts | Admission Free card holders | Members of Chamber of Fine Arts, the European Union, the European Economic Area | Journalists | Serving Military Service | ΙCOM, ICOMOS, AICA, ΙΚΤ (International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art) cardholders | Greek unemployed citizens
*Note: In any case, the presentation of a valid ID or relevant identification card is required.
- Escorting teachers during educational visits of schools and institutions of primary, secondary and tertiary education from EU member-states and countries of the European Economic Area.
- People entitled to Social Solidarity Income and members dependent on them, upon presentation of their ID card and certificate of free entry based on eligibility to the programme showing the duration, as well as a valid document certifying dependent members.
- Refugees, upon presentation of the International protection applicant card or a Travelling document of the 28th July 1951 Convention (a passport of recognized refugee) or a Foreign travelling document (a passport of recognised holder of subsidiary protection) or residence permit.
- Active employees of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the Hellenic Organization of Cultural Resources Development, the Acropolis Museum, the Kanellopoulos Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, the Byzantine and Christian Museum, the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, the Museum of Byzantine Culture and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum upon presentation of their service ID card.
- Tourist guides in Greece, upon presentation of their professional ID card.
- Members of the Association of Greek Art Historians, upon presentation of their valid membership card.
- Active members of the Central Councils and Regional Councils of Monuments of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture (Decision in force, appointing them as members of the said Councils of the Ministry of Culture).
- Contract employees of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the Hellenic Organization of Cultural Resources Development, the Acropolis Museum, the Kanellopoulos Museum, the National Αrchaeological Museum, the Byzantine and Christian Museum, the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, the Museum of Byzantine Culture and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. Renewal of the free pass is possible if they continue to be employed by the above bodies (Employment contract or certification of their employment relationship with the Ministry of Culture and the other bodies as appropriate).
- Retired employees of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the Hellenic Organization of Cultural Resources Development, the Acropolis Museum, the Kanellopoulos Museum, the National Αrchaeological Museum, the Byzantine and Christian Museum, the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, the Museum of Byzantine Culture and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum (Retirement decision or other relevant document, which explicitly states their pre-retirement employment relationship with the Ministry of Culture and the other bodies, as the case may be).
- Civil Servants in the Legal Advisor Office of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture (Certificate from the Central Office of the State Legal Council).
- Τeachers in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Greece (active and retired). In the case of substitute/hourly teachers, renewal of the free pass is possible if they continue to be employed as teachers (Certificate from the school or educational institution in general where they work or Pension Act respectively).
- Graduates of Departments of History and Archaeology of Schools of Philosophy, as well as graduates from Schools of Architecture, Fine Arts, Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, including Technicians of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art from Greece or from equivalent Schools of EU member-states and the European Economic Area, as well as holders of Master's or PhD Degrees from those Schools and Departments [(Degree (bachelor's degree, master's degree, doctoral degree as applicable) of the respective Schools/Departments].
- Graduates of Museum Studies programmes and Schools and Departments of Cultural Management of Higher Education Institutions in Greece or equivalent Institutions of EU member-states and the European Economic Area, as well as holders of Master's or PhD Degrees in those studies [(Degree (bachelor's degree, master's degree, doctoral degree as applicable) of the respective Schools/Departments].
Free admission - Anniversary days
06.03 Melina Mercouri Memorial Day
18.04 International Monuments Day
18.05 International Museum Day
Last weekend of every September, European Heritage Days
First Sunday of every month.
General instructions
- 1. Eating, drinking, smoking and vaping is not allowed inside the monument.
- 2. While touring in the monument, visitors with backpacks are required to carry them on their side or in front in order to avoid any damage.
- 3. An option of using personal lockers for bags and luggage is not provided.
- 4. The central space of the monument is accessible by visitors with moving disabilities and wheelchair carriers.
- 5. Guide dogs for the blind and assistance dogs for people with other disabilities are allowed.
- 6. Bicycles and scooters (electrical or not) are not permitted in the monument.
- 7. An Art Shop with POS service is available.
- 8. An audio guided tour for the monument and the exhibition is available, in Greek. English, Turkish, powered by SMARTIFY.
ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS
CAR / MOTORCYCLE
The monument does not provide parking, but there are private parking options nearby.
BUS
ANTIGONIDON STATION
WESTBOUND > EASTBOUND
01Ν, 02Κ, 10, 12, 14Α, 20, 21, 25, 27, 29, 29Α, 31, 32, 32Α, 34, 37, 38, 45, 45Α, 45Β, 52Β, 57, 70, 70Α, 71, 71Α, 83, 83Β
ARISTOTELOUS STATION
WESTBOUND > EASTBOUND
01Ν, 01Χ, 02Κ, 10, 14Α, 17, 24, 27, 28, 29, 29Α, 31, 32, 32Α, 34, 37, 38, 45, 45Α, 45Β, 52Β, 58, 70, 70Α, 71, 71Α, 83, 83Α, 83Β, 83Χ
ALCÁZAR STATION
EASTBOUND > WESTBOUND
01Ν, 02Κ, 14, 22 ,27, 28, 31, 37, 39, 39Α, 39Β, 44, 45, 45Α, 45Β, 71, 71Α
ANTIGONIDON STATION
EASTBOUND > WESTBOUND
01Ν, 02Κ, 14, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 32Α, 34, 34Α, 37, 38, 39, 39Α, 39Β, 44, 52Β, 57, 71, 71Α, 83, 83Β, 83Μ
BICYCLE / ELECTRIC SCOOTER
The monument does not provide parking, but there are private parking options nearby.
SUBWAY
Venizelou Station