Agios Nikolaos: A Transformation and the Minaret

The Church of Agios Nikolaos, situated in the square of Splantzia in Chania is quite remarkable. It is the only church in Greece with both a bell tower and a minaret.

As per Wikipedia , the church was constructed to serve as the main church of a monastery around 1320 by the brotherhood of the Monastery of St Peter of the Dominicans of Candia.

Following the Ottoman conquest of Chania in 1645, it underwent a transformation into a mosque known as Hugar Tzamisi, or the Mosque of the Ruler. During this conversion, an impressive minaret with two balconies was erected in the southwest corner. 

In 1918, it was converted into an Orthodox church dedicated to St Nicholas. During the 1950s, a modern bell tower was erected on the north side of the church.

Photo: Municipality of Chania