Ibrahim Han Mosque (Fortezza)

About

A domed mosque inside the Fortezza.

The mosque of Sultan Ibrahim stands in the middle of the Fortezza in Rethymno. It was originally the Venetian cathedral of Saint Nicholas, and after the Ottoman conquest in 1646 it was converted into a mosque and named after Sultan Ibrahim.

The building has a large dome, one of the biggest in Crete. Today it's used for exhibitions and concerts.

The building was originally the Venetian cathedral, dedicated to Saint Nicholas and built around 1583. After the Ottomans took Rethymno in 1646, they converted it into a mosque. It was abandoned in 1971 and is now used for exhibitions and concerts. Its large dome is the main feature of the Fortezza and can be seen from all over town.

The area around Rethymno town mixes a lively Venetian old town with a long sandy coast and quiet villages in the hills. To the east, the beach runs for kilometres past Platanes and Adelianos Kampos, where loggerhead turtles nest in summer. Inland, villages such as Chromonastiri, Myloi, Atsipopoulo and Maroulas have old Venetian houses and tavernas with views. The Arkadi monastery and ancient Eleftherna are less than half an hour away. Try the local snails, staka with eggs and the town's famous pastries.

Anreise

In Rethymno itself, easy to reach on foot.

On the map

35.37240, 24.47115 · See on map