Thessaloniki’s historic Alcazar is finally visible again. After decades of structural work, barriers, scaffolding and the construction of the Thessaloniki Metro, the restored Hamza Bey Mosque has returned to the cityscape on Egnatia Street.

This is a first exterior look at the monument before its reopening to visitors. At the time of filming, the interior was not yet accessible to the public, although the open entrance offers a limited glimpse toward its distinctive courtyard.

Hamza Bey Mosque on Egnatia Street

The Hamza Bey Mosque stands at the junction of Egnatia and Venizelou Streets, directly beside Venizelou Metro Station.

Its history dates to 1467–1468, making it the oldest surviving Islamic place of worship built in Thessaloniki. It began as a smaller prayer building founded by Hafsa Hatun, daughter of Hamza Bey, before being enlarged during the 16th century.

Among its most distinctive features is the colonnaded courtyard, an unusual surviving example of Ottoman architecture in the Balkans. Some of its columns and architectural elements were themselves reused from much older Roman and Early Christian buildings.

👉 Become a member and download the full guides:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpNQHHM3xG8Uc55C-OOcx7Q/join

🎁 Free Premium Travel Guide — Casa Batlló (Barcelona)

We’re giving away one of our Tier 1 premium guides for free — a full, long‑form, travel companion to help you plan your visit to Casa Batlló in Barcelona.

Download the free guide here: 👉 https://bit.ly/BTV_Battlo

If you enjoy this level of detail, consider joining to access our full library of premium guides.

Why Thessalonians Call It the Alcazar

For many residents, however, the name Hamza Bey Mosque is less familiar than Alcazar.

During the 20th century, the monument was adapted for other uses, and it eventually housed the popular Alcazar cinema. The cinema became so closely associated with the building that the name survived long after it closed.

For older Thessalonians, the monument also became associated with decades of restricted views. The severe Thessaloniki earthquake of 1978 caused additional damage, while years of deterioration and later structural reinforcement kept much of the building hidden from everyday view.

https://www.tiktok.com/@bestravelvideo

Restoration and the Thessaloniki Metro

Major restoration work began in stages during the 2000s, but the project became even more complex with the construction of the Thessaloniki Metro.

Venizelou Station was built immediately beside the monument, requiring extensive structural protection and monitoring. Today, one of the city’s newest transport projects and one of its oldest surviving Ottoman monuments stand almost side by side.

The result is also extremely convenient for visitors: simply leave the Metro at Venizelou Station, and the Alcazar is immediately in front of you.

Behind it stands another familiar Thessaloniki building, the former City Hall complex commonly known as Caravan Saray.