The Metropolitan Church of Agios Nikolaos and its bell tower stand in central Kozani, a few metres from Nikis Square. The church’s history and the tower’s clock make the pair a natural stop when you’re seeing Kozani’s central landmarks.
- Location: Central Kozani, beside Nikis Square
- Church built: 1721, on the site of an earlier church
- Clock tower: Built in 1855; its clock storey was added in 1939
The church and clock tower in Kozani
Agios Nikolaos is a three-aisled, barrel-vaulted basilica with a two-storey women’s gallery at the west end and a long pillared portico on the north side.
Its surviving dedicatory inscription dates the church to 1721, although an earlier church stood on the site. Accounts place that earlier building in the 17th century, while other proposals suggest it may date to the 15th century.
The church’s interior history spans several periods. Nikolaos and Theodoros of Ioannina painted its frescoes in 1730. Bandoveris, probably from the Ionian Islands, carved the wooden templon, bishop’s throne and processional Epitaphios between 1747 and 1751.
The templon’s despotic icons, attributed to Apostolis Longianos Vodeniotis of Edessa, are dated 1755. A chapel dedicated to St John the Baptist was added on the northeast side of the open portico at the beginning of the 19th century.
The bell tower was built in 1855 by master builder Hatzi Andreas of Selitsa, now Eratyra. It originally had six storeys; a seventh, with a clock on each of its four sides, was added in 1939.
The clock is locally known as “Mamatsios” and first rang on New Year’s Day in 1940. The Greek Ministry of Culture describes the church and its tall tower as among Kozani’s most distinctive landmarks.
How do you find Agios Nikolaos in central Kozani?
Agios Nikolaos stands a few metres from Nikis Square, placing it among the central streets and pedestrian areas. The surrounding area has cafés, bars, restaurants and taverns, so you can pair a look at the church exterior with time around the square.
For a broader route through the area, use this Kozani city-centre walking guide to put the landmark in context.
What should you check before visiting?
Opening hours and visitor access can vary, and no regular schedule is stated here. Check the official site before you go, especially if you plan to enter the church rather than view it from outside.
The site has changed over time. The church once stood inside a high stone enclosure within a larger complex that included the bishop’s residence, a council house, shops, hostels and a candleworks.
A school was built in the precinct around 1810, followed by the Community Library and a reading room and meeting place for scholars in 1813. The former precinct buildings were demolished in the first half of the 20th century, alongside extensive building work that altered the church’s original architectural form.
Kozani’s Historic Laographic Museum offers another way to explore the city’s history; this guide to the Historic Laographic Museum of Kozani covers that stop.
How can you add the clock tower to a Kozani walking route?
Start at Nikis Square, then take in the church and tower from the surrounding pedestrian streets. Their location makes it easy to keep the visit within the city centre, where cafés and restaurants provide nearby places to pause. Agios Nikolaos is about a 3-minute walk from Aliakmon Hotel, a three-star hotel in central Kozani.
FAQs
Where is Agios Nikolaos in Kozani?
The church is in central Kozani, a few metres from Nikis Square.
When was the Kozani clock tower built?
The tower was built in 1855. Its seventh storey, with clocks on all four sides, was added in 1939.
What is the Kozani clock called locally?
The clock is known locally as “Mamatsios.” It first rang on New Year’s Day in 1940.
When was the church built?
The surviving dedicatory inscription dates Agios Nikolaos to 1721. It was built on the site of an earlier church, whose date is disputed.