Murat Reis Mosque in Rhodes Town

There are three very famous mosques in the old town of Rhodes: Suleiman (Suleymaniye), Ibrahim Pasha and Recep Pasha. The Murat Reis Mosque is located near Elli beach in Rhodes New Town, and is not nearly as well known. However, I think it is the most interesting mosque on Rhodes, and I may be the only one who thinks so. This is mostly because it is falling into disrepair and looks very derelict. I like deserted houses and deserted villages, both in Sweden (where I come from) and in Greece.

Murat Reis Mosque in Rhodes Town.

Murat Reis Mosque on the left. Elli beach starts behind Ronda Bar, the white building with a dome.

Some of the graves in the courtyard.

The Murat Reis Mosque dates from Ottoman times and is named after Murat Reis the Elder, who was an important admiral in the Ottoman navy. The mosque was built around 1623 on the site where there used to be a church dedicated to Agios Antonius.

The minaret belonging to the Murat Reis mosque.

The mausoleum where Murat Reis is buried.

The mosque's original minaret was destroyed in 1912 but rebuilt. The mosque and the other buildings in the area have been damaged several times, most recently in 2013 when the mausoleum collapsed. In the courtyard is an Ottoman cemetery where the graves of Murat Reis and other important dignitaries can still be seen today. In 2024, the authorities began to renovate the mosque.

Imagine if the graves could talk and tell their stories.

WHAT YOU MUST NOT MISS WHEN YOU ARE IN THE AREA

Don't miss the Windy beach, which you can read about here »

READ MORE ABOUT RHODES