OTTOMAN MONUMENTAL BUILDINGS IN THESSALONIKI ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE

Abstract

Since founded by Cassander in 316 B.C., Thessaloniki has always been an important trade center, settlement and port. After the city was conquered in 1430 by the Ottoman Emperor Murad II., the city developed with densely Muslim and Turk population. As a cosmopolitan city, Thessaloniki has hosted many cultures through the history so architectural heritage of the city has developed with this cultural and vernacular architecture. During the 482 years of the Ottoman Period, a lot of architectural monuments and housing were built in the city. Ottoman monumental buildings are the important part of the architectural heritage of Thessaloniki. Therefore, we started a research project, “Kültür Köprüleri 1”. Firstly, the architectural and historical information was obtained with a literature survey and also architectural drawings of the buildings were drawn. Then, in April 2015, a field survey was done in order to observe and archive the current situation of buildings. Finally, the project published into a book, “Kültür Köprüleri 1- Selanik ve Kavala Bölgesinde Osmanlı Türk Mimari Mirası” (Erdoğan,N. and all.). As a result, this paper which will be prepared based on the book will be about the extant Ottoman monumental buildings with historical and architectural information and current situation in Thessaloniki