Alaca Imaret Mosque, Thessaloniki

The Alaca Imaret Mosque, also known as the Ishak Pasha Mosque, is a mosque from the 15th century under Ottoman rule. According to an inscription found at its entrance, the mosque was established in February 1484 by the command of Inogiolou Ishak Pasha, who served as the Grand Vizier during the reigns of Mohammed II and Bayezid II.

Besides its primary function as a place of worship, the mosque also housed facilities such as an imaret, a public charity kitchen, and a medrese, a religious school. By the 17th century, the Alaca Imaret had risen to prominence and became one of the city's notable institutions.

The mosque follows the architectural style typical of early Ottoman structures, featuring an inverted T-shape layout with a central area, two large domes, side chambers on the western side, and a colonnaded portico with five smaller domes. Historically, the central space was designated for prayers, while the surrounding areas were utilized for educational activities and communal meals. Inside, a significant arch divides the space into two square sections, each covered by a dome.

Originally, the mosque boasted lavish interior decoration including murals adorning the domes and walls, along with Quranic inscriptions. The name "Alaja Imaret" derives from the colorful, rhomboid-shaped stones (alaça) that once embellished the mosque's minaret. Unfortunately, the minaret was destroyed after Thessaloniki was recaptured by the Greeks in 1912, leaving only its base intact.

In 1970, following the collapse of the northern part of the portico, maintenance works commenced for the first time. Further restoration efforts took place between 1993 and 1996, focusing on the intricate external masonry among other tasks. Presently, the municipality of Thessaloniki owns the building, which no longer serves as a mosque but instead functions as an exhibition space.