Kos: Defterdar Mosque restored and highlighted by Ministry of Culture

A historical monument successful Kos, the Defterdar Mosque, on with its Moorish-style marble ablution fountain—which suffered important harm successful the 2017 earthquake, starring to the suspension of commercialized usage connected the crushed floor—is being restored and brought backmost into prominence by the Ministry of Culture. The task is valued astatine €1,500,000 and forms portion of a larger programme of works connected the island, with a full fund exceeding €10,000,000, funded by the Recovery Fund and the Ministry of Culture’s Public Investment Program.

Extensive Earthquake Damage

The Defterdar Mosque is located successful the halfway of Kos town. Built betwixt 1770 and 1780 connected the ruins of Christian and Roman churches, it has been declared a protected historical monument and lies wrong a designated archaeological site. The ablution fountain was constructed successful 1936 by the Italians pursuing the finalization of the caller metropolis program for Kos and the improvement of Eleftherias Square.

During the restoration works, aft the removal of store fittings connected the crushed floor, further unseen harm was discovered that had not been identified during the archetypal study.

Restoration Works Underway

Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated: “The ongoing task includes the indispensable interventions to stabilize and reconstruct the mosque, some the ground-floor spaces antecedently utilized for shops and the precocious level with the supplication hall, the reconstruction and repositioning of the ablution fountain successful the courtyard, and the rebuilding of the minaret. The works volition beryllium completed with the installation of monument-enhancing lighting, a occurrence extortion system, and lightning protection. Our extremity is to reintegrate this emblematic monument into the taste scenery of Kos, portion simultaneously enhancing the quality of the island’s historical center.”

She added: “From 2017, erstwhile the land experienced the effects of a beardown earthquake, until 2019, nary mentation had been made for the restoration of damaged monuments. The full fund for works connected Kos exceeds €10,000,000, funded by the Recovery Fund and the Ministry’s Public Investment Program. In 2020, we began preparing the studies, which person present been completed. The projects were tendered, contracts were signed, and restoration works began connected each earthquake-damaged monuments, which are present gradually being completed and returned to the section assemblage arsenic we had promised. The restoration of the Gate of Phoros and the Castle of Nerantzia has already been completed.”