THE GRAND MOSQUE HASSAN II, CASABLANCA
May 21 '02 (Updated May 09 '05)
The Bottom Line A magnificent and yet someone haunting structure. A touch of the ancient world in an otherwise "modern" city.
Our tour bus rattled out of the mountains, and through the ring of modern suburbs that surrounds Casablanca. We eventually reached the Atlantic coast and stopped for a break.
The salt sea air and slight drizzle were wonderfully refreshing, especially after a week of tramping through the mountains and deserts of central Morocco. After catching our breath, our attention was immediately riveted to the largest structure visible on the horizon, The Grand Mosque Hassan II.
The Mosque was built between 1980 and 1994 under the direction of King Hassan II. Between 1,100 and 1,400 workman, most skilled artisans, worked day and night to complete construction. Marble, granite and cedar from all over the country were used, as was imported Venetian glass. The building complex was designed by the French Architect Michel Pinseau. While a modern building, great effort was made to emulate the style and design of much more ancient structures.
The result is magnificent. It is easily the most dominate structure in all of Casablanca, if not perhaps the whole country. The 200 metre tall minaret towers over the Mosque and is visible from all of the city.
The Mosque itself sits on a rocky promitary built out over the ocean and is massive. It is the second largest Mosque in the world, surpassed only by Mecca. Inside there is room for 20,000 worshippers. Space for a further 80,000 is available in the courtyard. Guides will point out, with some pride, that St. Peters Basilica in Rome would easily fit inside the building.
As is the case in almost all Moroccan Mosques, non Muslims are prohibited from entering the building itself. They are however free to wander the courtyard, the ornate grounds, and the nearby cultural centre and library. One should of course be sensitive to the importance of this place in the Islamic Religion, and dress and act accordingly.
Perhaps one of the best times to visit is during one of the five daily calls to prayer. The almost plaintive cry from the minaret, calling the faithful seems to compliment in some manner the mist coming in from the ocean and the waves crashing on the rocks below.
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