Koutoubia Mosque
The Koutoubia Minaret is the uncontested symbol of Marrakesh, and the highest structure in the city. At 77 metres, no building is allowed to exceed its height, even today. It was added to the original Koutoubia Mosque in the late 12th century and is the only remaining structure from the old mosque, which was torn down shortly after its completion because it was not properly aligned with Mecca.
The minaret is believed to have been entirely covered in tiles in its early days. If you’re not Muslim, entrance inside the mosque is forbidden, which is fine by me. I always felt funny about stomping into churches and synagogues as people tried to pray or being asked to pay an entrance fee to see the inside of a religious building.
You can still see the beautiful architecture, stroll through the lovely grounds which is what we did but quickly. I was a bit scared of a backlash since I was taking pictures of this religious site with cardboard Holo and they might take it offensively. Luckily the manager was with us and got reassurance from the him saying that if there were a problem he will sort it out but it wasnt needed as no one at all bothered us. We took as many shots as we could and Im glad to say that Project Holo has added its first landmark coming from a North African country as well as Islamic culture. Its great to be able to have that diversity – head over here for more in-depth information about Project Holo.
There are plenty of wonderful sights in Marrakesh, smells and sounds to keep tourists entertained and some excellent dining opportunities. Overall my visit was mesmerising and mostly lived up to my expectations although it was very short. I would definitely come back for more but at least I can say Ive been to this wonderful place.
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