The monument, which stood surrounded by scaffolding for almost four decades until workers removed it last month, will now serve as an exhibition space under the joint responsibility of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Thessaloniki City and MOMus, the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki.<\/p>\n MOMus will manage the venue, which will host temporary exhibitions and special cultural events that reflect the monument\u2019s history and character. The site will operate as a permanent exhibition space while also accommodating a range of cultural activities.<\/p>\n The first exhibition will focus on Thessaloniki. Admission will be free during the venue\u2019s first two weeks of operation, after which visitors will pay a small, symbolic entrance fee.<\/p>\n Alacazar will open from Tuesday to Sunday, between 10 am and 6 pm, and will remain closed on Mondays.<\/p>\n The monument is expected to integrate easily into the city\u2019s everyday cultural life. It already stands as one of the most recognisable landmarks in this part of Thessaloniki, at the junction of Egnatia and Venizelou streets, directly beside the exit of Venizelou metro station.<\/p>\n Dating back to the 15th century, the Hamza Bey Mosque ranks among Thessaloniki\u2019s important Ottoman monuments. The daughter of military commander Hamza Bey commissioned its construction in 1467. Decades later, the colonnaded courtyard housed the Alacazar cinema, which operated for many years. The cinema\u2019s name eventually entered the city\u2019s collective memory and became synonymous with the monument itself.<\/p>\n Authorities have protected the mosque as a historic and archaeological monument since 1926. Following its restoration, the building now returns to Thessaloniki\u2019s cultural life in a new role, offering another cultural destination in the city\u2019s historic centre.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/temenos.webp)
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