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.
