- Address: Avenue Mohammed V, Marrakech, Morocco
- Height: 77 m
- Material of construction: brick, sandstone, ceramic tile
- Date of construction: 1184 - 1199 years.
- Architect: Yakub Al-Mansour
Exotic and spirit of the eastern fairy tale is impregnated with the country of Morocco . The markets, luxurious palaces, chicken and hookahs, spices, traditional food - from all this sometimes breathtaking. Only the image of the oriental beauty is not enough for the full realization of the fairy tale. And, perhaps, this factor will become a stumbling block, from which reality will increasingly take the reins of government into its own hands.
Morocco is a country of Islam. Girls here go in a veil and hijab. But it is worth noting that of all Islamic countries here are most loyal and friendly to tourists. To visit vacationers are even allowed to enter some religious places. And one of such places accessible to tourists places of religious pilgrimage in Morocco is the Kutubiya Mosque in Marrakech .
What is interesting for Kutubia Mosque for tourists?
Everyone in Marrakech today is proud of this symbol of faith. And not in vain, because Kutubia is the highest mosque in the city, if not in the whole country. The entire Islamic world is known for its minaret, which reaches 77 m in height. In translation, its name means "bookseller mosque", whether in honor of the library placed with it, or because of the booksellers near the temple. The Kutubiya mosque can accommodate up to 20 thousand people.
The minaret is crowned with four copper spheres with gilding. By the way, they are even composed of several legends. One of them says that the balls are cast from pure gold to the money of the Sultan's wife, who did not restrain her fast. She drank a glass of water before sunset, and as an atonement for this sin gave all her ornaments for the benefit of the mosque. It is worth noting that, because of this legend, the gilded orbs brought a lot of damage to the city, provoking countless attacks for the purpose of looting.
The architecture of the Kutubiya mosque in Marrakech carries features of Andalusian and Moroccan style. Outwardly it is covered with elegant stucco molding, and the interior decoration is rich in color mosaic. They decorate the mosque with five domes. Inside there are seventeen chapels with arches in the form of a horseshoe. In the central side-chapel is a mihrab, placed according to all the rules of Islam.
The difficult fate of the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech
The construction of the mosque dates from 1184 - 1199. However, twice Kutubia collapsed and rose from the very bottom. At the first construction it was found out that the mihrab is not oriented to Mecca. In anger, the Sultan executed the architect, ordering the building to be destroyed and begin again. In 1990 the Kutubiya mosque was restored. Since then, in its vicinity is broken garden, which today is pleased with its greenery of tourists and local residents.
What is characteristic is that the Kutubiya mosque in Morocco for Marrakesh residents serves as a guide. Its minaret can be seen from almost every corner of the city! However, despite all the hospitality to tourists, the entrance to the mosque to non-Muslims is still prohibited. A sightseeing tour is accessible to the garden, the courtyard, the neighborhood, but not the interior decoration, which is revered by the locals and is their shrine.
As mentioned above, many legends revolve around the mosque. And one of them will seem interesting to every tourist, because it gives everyone a chance to become happy and fulfill their cherished dream. So, according to legend, if a person with pure thoughts on the full moon stands at the minaret of Kutubia facing east, and sees the reflection of the moon on the golden balls, then his most cherished desire will come true!
How to get there?
It is convenient that there is a bus stop near the Koutoubia mosque in Marrakech. It will not be difficult to get here! It is just to take the bus to Koutoubia station.
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