Built in 1685 during Ottoman rule by the merchant Ibrahim Terbana, the Terbana Mosque is one of Alexandria's oldest surviving Ottoman-era religious buildings, notable for incorporating ancient granite and marble columns salvaged from earlier Greek and Roman structures in the city into its facade and interior supports. The mosque's street-facing elevation, unusual for Ottoman mosque design in Egypt, rises several storeys with alternating bands of red brick and stone in an ablaq style, giving it a distinctive striped exterior along Sharia Faransa in the El Gomrok district near Alexandria's old commercial harbor. Ground-floor commercial spaces below the prayer hall reflect the mosque's original dual function as both a place of worship and part of a merchant's income-generating waqf endowment. The minaret, rebuilt after damage over the centuries, retains an octagonal Ottoman form. The mosque has undergone several restoration campaigns by Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities to stabilize its brick facade and reinforce the reused ancient columns supporting its upper floors.
| Admission | Free |
|---|---|
| Hours | Exteriors viewable at all times; interior open outside prayer times |
| Address | Junction of Sharia Faransa and Wekalet Al Limon, El Gomrok, Alexandria, Egypt |
Why it matters
Combining Ottoman brickwork with reused Greek and Roman columns, the mosque physically embodies the layering of Alexandria's ancient, medieval and Ottoman-era architecture in a single structure.
Location
Junction of Sharia Faransa and Wekalet Al Limon, El Gomrok, Alexandria, Egypt
31.2008, 29.8872 View on map
Highlights
- Reused ancient Greek and Roman granite and marble columns in the structure
- Distinctive ablaq-style banded brick and stone facade along Sharia Faransa
- Octagonal Ottoman-style minaret above the prayer hall
- Ground-floor commercial units original to the mosque's waqf endowment design
- Location within Alexandria's historic El Gomrok trading quarter
Tips for visiting
- Visit outside of the five daily prayer times to view the interior comfortably
- Dress modestly; a headscarf is advisable for women entering the prayer hall
- Pair the visit with a walk through the nearby historic souks of El Gomrok
- The exterior facade is worth viewing even when the interior is closed
Frequently asked questions
Is the mosque open to non-Muslim visitors?
Yes, generally outside prayer times, with modest dress expected.
How long does a visit take?
Viewing the facade and interior typically takes about 15-20 minutes.
Is it accessible to wheelchairs?
The ground floor prayer hall is generally accessible, though the surrounding street has uneven paving.