One of the main attractions in Monastiraki square is Tzisdarakis mosque. It is impossible to omit this religious building, since it is visible from any point of the square.
In the rays of the setting sun, the mosque looks especially beautiful — the sun seems to illuminate the ancient walls from inside.
The structure was built in 1759. There was an active campaign then by the Sultan’s decree, aimed at reorientation of most of the temples and monuments of public use. His idea was to handle a situation with the multicultural character of the city during the Ottoman period. The Turkish Governor of Athens, Mustapha Agha Tzisdarakis ordered to build a mosque on the square. He was responsible for collecting taxes, guarding the treasuries of Sultan and keeping the harem. Therefore, he was sure that he could break the law, according to which it was not allowed to demolish any ancient buildings. He disobeyed the Sultan and encroached on the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Workers under his leadership destroyed the 17th column of the temple and made lime from it for the construction of the mosque. When the locals found out about this, they required to expel the governor from the city.
The destruction of ancient relics was considered to be followed by wars, epidemics and famine. In order to appease the people, the Sultan demoted Tzistarakis and accused him of vandalism. He revoked him of all honours and drove him out of Athens. However, this did not save him from death.
During the Greek revolution, the building lost its minaret and became actively used as a prison, warehouse and barracks. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was decided to restore the original appearance of the building. The work was stopped in 1918. At the same time, it housed the Museum of Greek folk art, and around the street vendors expanded their selling spots with souvenirs and other trinkets. In all this mess, it is very difficult to find the entrance to the building.
Since the end of the revolution, the mosque was used for its intended purpose only once, when the king of Saudi Arabia paid an official visit to Greece in 1966.
Originally, it was a beautiful two-storey building, which was crowned by a hemispherical dome located on an octagonal base. According to the plan of the architects, the interior had to be luxurious from floor to ceiling. But nowadays it is represented by only two levels. There is an open portico with three arches on the western side. The inscription left by the founder of the mosque still can be seen above the door.
Since 1974, within the walls of the former mosque a collection of ceramics has been kept, which was presented to the Museum of folk art by professor Kyriazopoulos. This Museum had been located here since 1918, but as the collection grew, it had to be moved to a larger building. The mosque has become a kind of annex to the Museum, where modern majolica ceramics are stored.
You will be able to see terracotta jugs from Igina around the mihrab, as well as clay dishes from Sifnos and pots from Thessaly. Many of these exhibits are actively used by the population in everyday life. Here you can also see paintings by artists from the Center of the study of traditional ceramics.
The Tzistarakis Mosque in Athens is located right in Monastiraki square that is why you'll easily notice it.
