Turkalbanian Tekke

Although the exact date of its construction is unknown, the Turkalbanian Tekke on 7is Merarchias Street is estimated to have been built about 250 years ago. It is the only remaining Muslim monument in the entire area of Pieria from the time of the Ottoman occupation.

Essentially, it was a Muslim monastery, extending over an space of approximately 300 stremmas, from the park to the old hospital. Today, the only remaining structure to remind us of the tekke is the mausoleum of Abdullah Pasha. Here, the Bektashi order was active, a liberal and non-fanatical sect, who coexisted harmoniously with the city’s Christians, since the area belonged to the estate of Ali Pasha of Ioannina.

According to Professor Ioannis Kaztaridis, the activity of the monastery ceased immediately after the death of the Hodja, the religious teacher who, despite being an official representative of another religious doctrine, was invited to all city events and national anniversaries alongside the city officials and the Metropolitan.

The monastery complex included the residence of the abbot (Baba), the cells of ordinary monks, guest houses, a kitchen and a dining hall for celebrations such as Bayram and Ramadan. The remaining building is polygonal with a Byzantine dome, while its antechamber is covered by a tiled roof with gabled ends. Inside, there are two graves of abbots (türbe), copper votive offerings and a Quran, while the walls are adorned with calligraphic inscriptions in Arabic.