Kursum Mosque
In the historic centre of Kastoria stands a remarkable monument: Kursum Mosque. It is the only surviving example of the city’s seven Ottoman mosques, and a fine specimen of Islamic architecture. Scholars believe it was built in the early 15th century, on the foundations of an earlier Byzantine church. The prayer hall is a single unified space, covered by a dome and decorated with muqarnas (carved geometric forms) that reflect the craftsmanship of the period. On the southeast side, the mihrab—the niche indicating the direction of Mecca—has been preserved, along with traces of the minbar, the imam’s pulpit. The minaret, located at the western corner, survives without its crowning top, yet its interior—of 63 stone steps spiraling around a central axis—impresses with its precision. Declared a listed monument in 1924, the mosque has served many purposes: a soup kitchen during WWII, later a library, and, until recently, a storage space for the Archaeological Service. Today, restoration works by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kastoria are bringing new life to a monument where different eras, cultures, and religions meet.
