Halil Bey mosque, Ottoman mosque in central Kavala, Greece
Halil Bey mosque is a red-stone building in central Kavala that houses a large prayer hall with a glass floor section revealing archaeological remains from an earlier Byzantine church dedicated to Saint Paraskevi. The structure sits within a complex that includes ancillary buildings designed to serve the religious community.
Built around 1530 during Kavala's reconstruction under Ottoman rule, the mosque marks an important phase in the city's transformation. It was erected on land formerly occupied by a Byzantine church, connecting the site's pre-Ottoman religious past to its later Islamic period.
The mosque served as home to the municipal philharmonic orchestra from 1930 to 1940, earning its local nickname the 'Mosque of Music'. This unexpected use continues to shape how residents think about the building today.
The building sits near the Castle and now functions as a museum and event venue with rotating exhibitions displayed inside and in the forecourt. Multiple spaces are available for visitors to explore at their own pace.
The complex includes a preserved madrasa with eight student rooms that now houses folklore collections and local cultural associations. This lesser-known section reveals how religious education functioned within the Ottoman community.
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