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Hassan II Mosque,
built for the 60th birthday of former Moroccan king Hassan II, is the
largest religious monument in the world after Mecca. It has space for 25,000
worshippers inside and another 80,000 outside. The 210-meter minaret is the
tallest in the world and is visible day and night for miles around. Although
Hassan II Mosque was designed by a French architect, it is Moroccan through
and through. All of the granite, plaster, marble, wood, and other materials
used in its construction were taken from around Morocco, the sole exceptions
being the white granite columns and the glass chandeliers. 6,000 traditional
Moroccan artisans worked for five years to turn these raw materials into
abundant and incredibly beautiful mosaics, stone and marble floors and
columns, sculpted plaster moldings, and carved and painted wood ceilings. |
