The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the largest mosque in Morocco. It is the second largest mosque in Africa and fifth largest in the world. The massive building sits along the sea wall of the Atlantic ocean with a minaret rising regally to a height of 210 feet, making it the tallest in the world. At night, the minaret is lit with a laser which points toward Mecca. We visited during the day, taking in the beautiful architecture visible in the daylight. It is an impressive structure with intricate details.
The massive building incorporates the amazing views, seen both from the adjacent sea wall and promenade as well as through the retractable roof. Parts of the mosque sit above the water. The walls are made of marble with the exterior featuring a pleasing mosaic that is visible for quite some distance. The aqua colored tiling creates a contrasting pattern against the white stone, adding to the beauty of the architecture and design. In addition to the laser atop the minaret, there are also three large metal spheres in descending size. The expansive building and plaza can host over 100,000 worshipers at one time, with 25,000 inside the actual building.
The plaza has some covered walkways with arches creating a nice line of vision to the mosque. There are some nice tiled fountains on the plaza and a promenade that circles around toward the sea. There is also a museum and bookstore on the premises. The buildings are impressive to visit. It was the most beautiful mosque I have seen. It is definitely worth a stop if you are in Casablanca. Even if, like me, you are not Muslim. It is a beautiful building.
The mosque is located at Boulevard de la Corniche, Casablanca 20000, Morocco. They offer tours to the public. The admission fee is a bit steep at thirty dollars for a one hour tour.
All photos are my own. They may be reproduced with prior permission.