Ali Pasha Mosque, Ohrid

Within Ohrid’s Old Bazaar, the Ali Pasha Mosque has stood since 1573 and is traditionally attributed to Suleiman Pasha. It rises close to the old Chinar tree, at the northern end of the bazaar, and its dome and minaret are prominent features of this part of the city. In 1823, it was renovated by Ali Pasha, whose name it carries today. A reminder of the centuries of Ottoman rule in Ohrid, the mosque remains an active place of worship.

The mosque has a square prayer hall crowned by a central dome, while the entrance portico is covered by three smaller domes. Stone and fired brick were used in its construction. The Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi wrote that the mosque had two minarets, although surviving evidence suggests that only one may actually have been completed. That minaret was destroyed around 1912, leaving only part of its base.

Today, a tall minaret once again rises beside the mosque, and at prayer times the surrounding square may reverberate with the adhan, the Muslim call to prayer. The reconstructed minaret reaches about 107 feet in height. It was rebuilt as part of an extensive restoration carried out between 2017 and 2019. During the project, the mosque’s walls were strengthened, the main dome was covered with lead, decorative elements were restored, and the surrounding grounds were improved.