Description of the attraction
The Koutoubia Mosque, along with the Djemaa al-Fna Square, is the main shrine and symbol of the city of Marrakech. The construction of the mosque began in 1158 during the reign of Sultan Abd Al-Mumin and ended in 1190 when his grandson, Sultan Yakub Al-Mansur, came to power. Koutoubia was erected on the site of an ancient mosque of the 11th century that had previously stood here.
According to legend, the emir ordered the construction of a mosque designed by his court architect. After the completion of the construction, it turned out that the temple was incorrectly oriented towards the most important Arab shrine - Mecca. As a result, the angry emir executed the architect, destroyed the mosque, and ordered to build a new one in its place. The mosque was built from shale sandstone, which was mined in the Jebel Geliz quarries.
The Koutoubia Mosque is one of the largest mosques in Africa. It can simultaneously accommodate about 20 thousand people. After the construction, the temple performed several functions - it was used as a library, university and school.
In Koutoubia, elements of Andalusian and Moroccan architecture are harmoniously combined. The building is covered with beautiful colored stucco and decorated with brightly colored mosaics. However, over time, all the decorations were removed. The mosque is crowned with five domes. Inside the mosque there are 17 side-altars with horseshoe-shaped arches. The central side-altar points to the mihrab - a prayer niche, turned towards Mecca. At the opposite end of the temple is an open courtyard that serves as a place for prayer.
Today, the Koutoubia Mosque rises above Marrakech to a height of 77 m, being the tallest in comparison with other religious buildings in the city. Due to its height and magnificent decoration, the mosque can be seen from afar. Decorated with four shining gilded balls, the minaret was erected in the traditional Spanish-Moorish architectural style from slate sandstone in the form of a tower with a 16-meter lantern and a dome topped with a spire.
Entrance to the Koutoubia Mosque is prohibited for non-Muslims. But you can visit the luxurious garden that surrounds it from all sides.
