Easy hikes and walks in Greece

Beautiful fortress from which you have a dream view over the city.

The Ibrahim Han Mosque (Greek: Τζαμί του Ιμπραήμ Χαν, from Turkish: İbrahim Han Camii), also known as the Sultan Ibrahim Mosque (Greek: Τζαμί του Σουλτάνου Ιμπραήμ), is a former mosque in the town of Rethymno, on the island of Crete, in southern Greece. Situated inside the old fortezza of Rethymno, the structure was originally built in the c. 1580s by the Venetians as a church. The church was converted to a mosque following the island's conquest at the hands of the Ottomans. The mosque was abandoned in 1971, and subsequently repurposed as an exhibition center. It was built on the site of the Venetian Cathedral, a church built around 1583-85 and dedicated to Saint Nicholas. The Venetians transferred the cathedral seat to the fortezza after the previous church was completely destroyed during the 1571 invasion. In 1585, the successor bishop Carrara refused to hold masses in the church, claiming that it was not adequately equipped and the space was too narrow. Very shortly after the town of Rethymno was conquered by the Ottomans, they demolished the church and built the mosque, dedicated to Sultan Ibrahim I in 1648, with a large, imposing dome. The complaed became property of the city of Rethymno in 1971; it was restored between 2002 and 2004 by the Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities, and now it is used as an exhibition center. The mosque's dome is 11 metres (36 ft) in diameter, and rests on eight arches.Today, the spherical triangles formed in the corners from the arches on its four walls can still be seen, and so does the arch above the entrance. Furthermore, the mihrab with its elaborate relief designs and the base of the demolished minaret inside the building are also still visible. The minaret, which once stood on the northwestern corner of the church/mosque, collapsed at the beginning of the twentieth century, and was never rebuilt. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim_Han_Mosque

As of early March 2026, the route is unfortunately largely impassable.

Ornate doors decorated with Venetian coats of arms, Ottoman mosques with minarets and wooden facades of mansions attract attention - before you land on the shore of the famous port.

You'll discover how the old town grew into Crete's third-largest settlement, expanding from the port around 1300. You'll also appreciate its intimate and vibrant atmosphere, filled with small bars, cafes, and concept stores housed in renovated buildings. And of course, there are still plenty of tavernas where you can enjoy traditional Cretan food and music.

Rethymno's old town is partly Venetian, partly Ottoman, but always unmistakably Cretan. A stroll through the city's original settlement, halfway between Chania and Heraklion on Crete's north coast, brings the past to life through striking buildings, street markets, atmospheric alleyways, and historical monuments.

The mosque's dome has a diameter of 11 meters and rests on eight arches. Today, the spherical triangles that formed at the corners of the arches on the four walls are still visible, as is the arch above the entrance. Furthermore, the mihrab with its elaborate relief designs and the base of the demolished minaret are still visible inside the building. The minaret, which once stood at the northwest corner of the church/mosque, collapsed at the beginning of the 20th century and was never rebuilt.

Very soon after the city of Rethymno was conquered by the Ottomans, they demolished the church and in 1648 built the mosque dedicated to Sultan Ibrahim I, with a large, imposing dome. [1][4] The Complaed became the property of the city of Rethymno in 1971; it was restored between 2002 and 2004 by the Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities and is now used as an exhibition centre.