Neratze Mosque
Τζαμί Νερατζέ
Originally the Venetian Augustinian Church of Our Lady, converted into a mosque in the Ottoman period with three added domes and a tall minaret. Today it is the music academy and concert hall of Rethymno.
This building is a representative example of Rethymno's layered Venetian and Ottoman architecture. Its Renaissance stone portal is a relic of the Venetian era. After it was converted into a mosque in 1657, three domes were added, and the minaret, built in 1890, is one of the tallest in the city. It now serves as a music academy, and the interior is not always open, though it may be accessible during concerts. The minaret was once open for climbing, but it is now closed most of the time. It sits on Vernardou Street in the central old town, and can be combined with a visit to the nearby Ottoman alleys and wooden enclosed balconies.
Opening hours
Exterior open all day; interior open only during performances or events
Nearby sights
- Rethymno Old Town
- Rimondi Fountain
- Venetian Harbour & Lighthouse of Rethymno
- Archaeological Museum of Rethymno
- Fortezza of Rethymno
- Rethymno Beach
- Late Minoan Cemetery of Armeni
- Argyroupoli