Sultan Mustafa Mosque, Rhodes

Completed in 1765, Sultan Mustafa Mosque stands as a clear expression of Rhodes’ Ottoman-era architecture. It is traditionally associated with Sultan Mustafa III, whose patronage is recorded in a marble inscription set into the entrance frame.

The mosque reflects a restrained Ottoman architectural style. Its interior is organized into three square spaces, one of which is larger and higher than the others, each covered by domes. Along the north side, two consecutive galleries overlook the prayer hall. Although the mosque originally featured a minaret, it was removed during the Italian period in the early 20th century and no longer survives.

Restoration work carried out during the Italian administration introduced the building’s distinctive yellow facade, a characteristic later maintained and refreshed during conservation campaigns in the mid-2010s. These interventions stabilized the structure while preserving its Ottoman spatial layout.

One of its most notable interior features is the marble minbar, among the largest surviving on the island. Constructed from gray marble blocks and richly decorated with carved Arabic ornament, it bears a prominent inscription of the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith. Today, the mosque is not in regular daily use but occasionally hosts religious events for the local Muslim community, including weddings.