Description of the attraction
The Hassan II Grand Mosque is one of the main Moroccan attractions, a real gem of the city. Located in Casablanca on the Atlantic coast, it is the largest mosque in Morocco and the tallest religious building in the world. The total height of the minaret of the mosque is about 200 m, which is 40 m higher than the Cathedral of St. Peter, and 30 m higher than the famous pyramid of Cheops. The huge structure can accommodate up to 25 thousand people. The territory occupied by the mosque is more than 9 hectares. Half of the area of the Muslim mosque is located directly above the ocean.
Construction on the mosque began during the reign of King Hassan II in July 1986 and ended in August 1993. The mosque was erected by the French architect Michel Pinceau, who was not a Muslim. Over the course of 7 years, 6 thousand Moroccan artisans worked on the construction of this masterpiece. The materials used for the construction of the Great Mosque (wood, granite, marble, gypsum, etc.) were brought from different regions of the country. And only white granite for the columns and glass chandeliers were imported from Italy.
The building of the mosque is so beautiful and rich that its appearance resembles a real palace. Inside the mosque, spirituality and modern technology are perfectly combined. The prayer hall is decorated with 78 pink granite columns, beautiful floors covered with slabs of green onyx and golden marble. In winter, the floor is heated. The entire area of the mosque is lit by a huge 50-ton glass chandelier from Italy.
A laser spotlight installed at the top of the minaret creates a 30 km long green light line directed towards the Mosque in Mecca. The structure has a sliding roof.
The Hassan II Grand Mosque is open to tourists.
