Tzisdarakis Mosque: An Islamic gem in the heart of Athens

It was also known as the Mosque of the Lower Fountain (Kato Syntrivani), named after the fountain that once stood in front of it. In 1915, the monument was restored by the architect Anastasios Orlandos, and in 1918 it was assigned for museum use to the newly established Museum of Greek Handicraft, now called the Museum of Modern Greek Culture.

Above the entrance, the original foundation inscription is preserved, and inside the monument, on the eastern side, the mihrab (prayer niche) survives, elaborately decorated with honeycomb vaulting, painted vegetal motifs and inscriptions.

Today the monument operates as an annex of the Museum of Modern Greek Culture. It houses the exhibition section dedicated to the history of the Museum, showcasing the cultural context of different periods that shaped its collecting policy, through emblematic objects of modern Greek culture dating from the 17th century to the mid-20th century.

From the Museum’s first acquisition – a woman’s bridal and festive attire from 17th century Skyros – to collections of heirlooms dating from the 1930s to the 1970s, the exhibition seeks to connect the objects with the stories of the people who used them.