Kaloutsiani Mosque, Ioannina Travel Guide

The Kaloutsiani Mosque, also known as the 'mosque of the bloody fountain' , is a historical Ottoman mosque located in Ioannina, in northwestern Greece. Constructed in 1740 by Haci Mehmed Pasha , it replaced a smaller, wooden mosque that likely dated back to the 15th century. The mosque's name is believed to be derived from the Turkish words for 'blood' (kan) and 'fountain' (çeşme), possibly linked to the suppression of a Greek revolt in 1611.The mosque features a square prayer room and a distinctive architectural style with two levels separated by a cornice, topped by a dome. Originally, a colonnaded portico adorned the north and east facades, but it has since been blocked. Over time, the mosque served various purposes, including a coffeehouse named "The Mosque". The minaret, standing at 20.36 meters, lost its roof sometime between 1920 and 1944.Today, the Kaloutsiani Mosque belongs to the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports, with ongoing restoration efforts aimed at restoring it to its original appearance. While currently not open to visitors due to the restoration , it remains a significant landmark, embodying Ioannina's rich cultural and historical tapestry.