The Ministry of Culture, consistently implementing the program for the restoration and promotion of the monuments of Kos, which were affected by the 2017 earthquake, is completing the work of protecting, restoring, maintaining and promoting the Defterdar Mosque and the -Moorish style- marble Fountain of Purification, in the historic center of Kos town.
The mosque and the fountain suffered significant damage from the earthquake, resulting in the interruption of commercial uses of the ground floor. During the restoration work, after the removal of the equipment of the shops on the ground floor, further damage was discovered, which was not visible during the preparation of the study. The project, with a total budget of approximately 1,500,000 euros, is being implemented by the Directorate for the Restoration of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments of the Ministry of Culture and is financed by the Recovery Fund and the Public Investment Program of the Ministry of Culture.
Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated: “From 2017, when the island experienced the consequences of a strong earthquake, until 2019, there was no preparation for the restoration of the “damaged” monuments. The total budget of the projects in Kos exceeds 10,000,000 euros and is covered by resources from the Recovery Fund and the Public Investment Program of the Ministry of Culture. In 2020, we started with the maturation of the studies, which were completed. The projects were put out to tender, the contracts were signed and the works began on all the earthquake-affected monuments, which are now gradually being completed and returned to the local community, as we had committed. The restoration works of the Toll Gate and the Castle of Nerantzia have already been completed. The Defterdar Mosque and the Fountain of Purification have dominated Eleftherias Square since the late 18th century. In the project that is in progress, the required interventions are being completed regarding the consolidation and restoration of the mosque, both the ground floor area with the shops, and the floor with the prayer area, the restoration-repositioning in the courtyard area of the Fountain of Purification and the erection of the minaret. The works are being completed with the lighting of the monument, the installation of a fire protection and lightning protection system. Our goal is to reintegrate an emblematic monument into the cultural map of Kos, while upgrading the image of the island’s historical center.” The Defterdar Mosque is located in the center of Kos town. It was built in 1770 – 1780 on the ruins of Christian and Roman temples. The mosque has been declared a historical monument and is located within the declared archaeological site. The Fountain of Purification is a construction of 1936, by the Italians, after the finalization of the new urban plan of Kos town and the formation of Eleftherias Square.
