Rethymno Ibrahim Han Mosque

Location: Town

The Ibrahim Han Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ibrahim Mosque, is located in the middle of the Fortezza. The mosque stands next to the Rector's residence, on the site of the pre-existing Venetian cathedral of Saint Nicholas, which was built around 1583-1585. When Rethymno was occupied by the Turks in 1646, the church of Saint Nicholas was pulled down and an Ottoman mosque dedicated to the Sultan Ibrahim Han was erected in its place.

The building itself is very well-constructed. It is a solid square construction with an impressive mosaic dome that reaches 11 meters in diameter and rests on eight arches. The mihrab, with its elaborate relief designs, has been preserved and can be seen in the center of the southeastern wall, facing Mecca, the Muslims' holy town. On the northwestern side, it is still possible to find the base of the minaret, which collapsed at the beginning of the twentieth century and was never rebuilt. A small chapel dedicated to Agios Theodoros Trichinas was built next to the mosque and was inaugurated in 1899.

Unfortunately, the mosque is today closed to the public. It was restored between 2002 and 2004 by the Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities and is now used as an exhibition center that opens only to host music events. However, it is still worth a visit, just to admire its architecture and to glimpse the interior through a window.