The Ottoman Tzistarakis Mosque in Monastiraki Square houses a permanent exhibition of the Museum of Modern Greek Culture.
In this complete guide to the Tzistarakis Mosque in Athens, you'll learn all about the exhibition, history, and helpful information on how about get there and tickets.
What Can I Do at Tzistarakis Mosque?
Tzistarakis Mosque in the heart of Athens is an Ottoman mosque built in 1759.
Since the end of Ottoman rule in Greece, the 2-story building has served as barracks, a prison and a warehouse, among other things. Most recently, Tzistarakis Mosque was used as a branch of the Museum of Greek Folk Art.
After extensive renovation work, the historic rooms in Tzistarakis Mosque are now part of the Museum of Modern Greek Culture.
In the former mosque, you can not only admire the remarkable architecture of the building, but there is an exhibition also. This shows selected exhibits about the history of the museum, which was founded in 1918 as the Museum of Greek Craftsmanship in Tzistarakis Mosque.
Even if the museum itself is one of the lesser known museums in Athens, a visit to the mosque offers interesting insights. As one of the most important remaining testimonies from the Ottoman period in Athens, the former church also provides an interesting insight into this period of Greek history in addition to the exhibits.
Temporary Exhibitions
A current overview of the upcoming temporary exhibitions of the Museum of Modern Greek Culture can be found here. Since the museum is housed in several buildings, you should pay attention to the exhibition rooms in which the respective temporary exhibition is shown.
Admission, Tickets and Guided Tours
How Do I Get to Tzistarakis Mosque?
Tzistarakis Mosque is located in central Athens in close proximity to attractions such as the Roman Agora, the Acropolis, Hadrian's Library and the Monastiraki Flea Market .
Since the mosque is located on the centrally located Monastiraki Square right next to the “Monastiraki” metro station, it is best reached with metro line 1 or 3. Alternatively, you can also take the Hop on Hop off bus tour to station A 14 “Monastiraki/ Thession” and walk the few meters to the Tzistarakis Mosque.
Visitors arriving from the Piraeus cruise port can go to the nearby Piraeus Metro Station and board the M1 line. A single ticket is sufficient for the 16-minute journey to Monastiraki station.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Since the completion of the renovation work, Tzistarakis Mosque has housed an exhibition about the history of the Museum of Modern Greek Culture. The mosque was formerly used as a branch for the Museum of Greek Folk Art.
The current opening hours of the Tzistarakis Mosque can be found on the official website of the Museum of Modern Greek Culture.
Tzistarakis Mosque is located on Monastiraki Square in central Athens in close proximity to attractions such as the Roman Agora, the Acropolis, Hadrian's Library and the Monastiraki Flea Market. The full address is: Areos 1, Athina 105 55, Greece
Due to its location right in the heart of Athens, the Tzistarakis Mosque can be easily reached from anywhere in the city. Since the metro station "Monastiraki" is located directly at the mosque, it is best reached with metro line 1 or 3. Alternatively, you can also take the hop on hop off tour to station A 14 "Monastiraki/Thession" and the few meters walk to Tzistarakis Mosque.
Visitors arriving from the Piraeus cruise port can go to the nearby Piraeus Metro Station and board the M1 line. A single ticket is sufficient for the 16-minute journey to Monastiraki station.
History of Tzistarakis Mosque
Tzistarakis Mosque was built by the Ottomans in 1759 during the Ottoman rule in Athens. It owes its name to Moustapha Agha Tzistarakis, the then Ottoman governor of Athens, under whose direction the mosque was built.
The building did not serve as a mosque for long. During the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829) the mosque was used as a meeting hall. In the decades that followed, it served as an event venue, barracks, a warehouse and a prison.
In 1918, the first folklore museum in Athens was founded in Tzistarakis Mosque as the Museum of Greek Handicrafts. This was renamed to the National Museum of Decorative Arts in 1923 and the Museum of Greek Folk Art in 1959.
Since the main part of the museum was moved to 17 Kydathinaion Street in 1973, Tzistarakis Mosque has housed the Ceramics Collection of the Museum of Greek Folk Art.
After extensive renovation work, Tzistarakis Mosque is now houses an exhibition from the museum, which is now the Museum of Modern Greek Culture in several buildings in the Monastiraki district.