Koutoubia mosque

Marrakesh’s largest mosque is located near Djemaa el-Fna square it is considered one of the most beautiful and proportioned mosques in existance. The Almohad conquered Marrakesh in 1150 and construction began on the mosque which was built on at the same place as an earlier Almoravid mosque.

Built during the Hispano-Moresque period the architecture is particularly beautiful. The mosque was named Koutoub which means “book” as a book market once stood not far from the mosque.

 

The mosque has 16 parallel naves and a larger central nave with 112 columns. The mosque is best known for its minaret; the oldest of only three Almohad minarets in the world. Unfortunately non-Muslims many not enter the minaret which is almost 70 meters tall and stands out above the buildings of the city.

 

Inside there are six rooms on six levels and a ramp which curves around the structure so that the muezzin could ride his horse/donkey up to the balcony and call worshipers to prayer.

 

The central “spire” on the roof is made of a stack of progressively smaller copper balls. This is a traditional Moroccan design usually created with three orbs but this minaret features four. Seven legends symbolizing Marrakesh’s seven patrons are associated with the minaret. The mosque and minaret are surrounded by gardens so even if you cannot enter the mosque you can still walk around the building in the gardens.