Halil Bey Mosque
The Halil Bey Mosque is located at the centre of the peninsula, near the Castle and on roads that lead to the acropolis and the gates of the peninsula walls. It is believed that the mosque was built during the reconstruction of the town, in around 1530.
The mosque was part of a larger complex that also contained a madrasa (a seminary with eight rooms for the students), which also survives in a good condition.
In the early 20th century a girls’ primary school was also housed in the complex. From 1930-1940 the mosque housed the Municipality’s orchestra and so gained the name of “Music Mosque”. Today it is known as “Palia Mousiki”, that means Old Music.
After restoration and conversion work carried out by the Ephorate of Antiquities and the Municipality of Kavala, the space has now been opened to the public and it hosts many exhibitions and events both within the building and in its forecourt. The madrasa is host to folklore collections, social services and “To Kastro”, the cultural association of the district of Panagia.
The mosque was part of a larger complex that also contained a madrasa (a seminary with eight rooms for the students), which also survives in a good condition.
In the early 20th century a girls’ primary school was also housed in the complex. From 1930-1940 the mosque housed the Municipality’s orchestra and so gained the name of “Music Mosque”. Today it is known as “Palia Mousiki”, that means Old Music.
History & Culture
Excavations by the 12th Ephorate of Byzantine antiquities have uncovered the first Christian house of worship in the walled city on this spot, namely the three-aisled Early Christian Byzantine church of Agia Paraskevi (the remains of which can be seen through the glass floor of the mosque), as well as a small Byzantine-era cemetery. In the early centuries of Ottoman rule it was common practice for mosques to be built on the site of churches or for churches to be converted into mosques.
Due to the geomorphology of the area, many scientists had from time to time formulated the theory of the existence of a Christian basilica under the mosque. The restoration works of the monument in the years 2005, 2006 and 2008 confirmed this theory: under the mosque there was a Christian basilica, possibly of Agia Paraskevi.
It is a three-aisled basilica with a semi-circular niche and a narthex, with total external dimensions of 23.00×16.00 m. It was obviously a wooden roof, due to the small thickness of its walls, and the aisles were divided either by pesso walls or by alternating pesso and columns. The dimensions of the narthex are 16.00×5.50 m. The masonry consists of carved and rough stones of the local rock from which the other public works of the city (wall, aqueduct, acropolis) have been built. Lime plaster is used as a binding material.
The monument has evidence that does not make its original construction in the late early Christian years improbable. Its architectural engraving and the first masonry phase of the niche with its brick bands and coarsely ground tiles refer to early examples belonging to the early Christian period. However, the absence of characteristic early Christian finds does not allow safe conclusions to be drawn.
After restoration and conversion work carried out by the Ephorate of Antiquities and the Municipality of Kavala, the space has now been opened to the public and it hosts many exhibitions and events both within the building and in its forecourt. The madrasa is host to folklore collections, social services and “To Kastro”, the cultural association of the district of Panagia.
Map
More Kavala Places
Acropolis - Fortress
Kamares - Aqueduct
