Hassan Tower, Rabat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Morocco
The Hassan Tower is one of the monuments of Rabat which has a long history. Sultan Yaqoub al Mansour, who gave the order to build the tower that was supposed to be the largest minaret in the world. His death in 1199 stopped construction on the mosque, and the construction of the complex was “in progress” as it appears today.
Despite the incompleteness, The construction consist of several walls and 200 columns that was supposed to be a mosque has an undeniable charm. The tower reached 44-meter and was inspired by the Koutoubia of Marrakech, the similarity is striking.
The interior of the tower is equipped with a ramps which the muezzin could ride a horse to call the prayer. Hassan Tower is dominating an esplanade of marble pillars, the remnants of a mosque conceived in the 12th century so that the entire army of the sovereign Yaqub Al-Mansour could pray there.
On this very esplanade stands the Mohammed V mausoleum, a veritable little palace. Finely-crafted marble, bronze and painted woods under a mahogany dome perforated with stained glass form the case enclosing the royal tombs carved into a chiseled block of white onyx and resting on a slab of onyx and dark blue granite which shimmers like water.
Epic Morocco Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
Own or work here?
