Five times a day, the call to prayer cascades down onto their towns and cities from soaring minarets. As the majority of Muslim countries, Algeria and Morocco can lay claim to some of the finest Islamic edifices in North Africa. Below is my ultimate guide to the nine most beautiful mosques worthy of any architecture lover’s must-see list. But don’t focus solely on tourist magnet Morocco – I suggest gravitating eastwards to undiscovered gem Algeria. But be warned: while these two share a lengthy land border, their spat raged unabated, leading to its closure in 1994. This shouldn’t deter you from visiting but do fly.
Morocco’s most stunning mosques
1. Hassan II, Casablanca
The Hassan II is Casablanca’s crowning glory. Often hailed as one of the world’s most stunning examples of Islamic religious architecture, this iconic site boasts the second-highest minaret on the planet, at 210 m. It is second only to Algiers’ newly built Great Mosque, which was completed in April 2019 and stands at a neck-craning 265 m.
The gargantuan Hassan II mosque can accommodate up to 105,000 worshippers (25,000 inside and 80,000 in its courtyard). And its dazzling decoration provides enough camera fodder to keep you busy for hours – keep an eye out for its exquisite local zellige tiles and striking plaster details.
While non-Muslims are barred from entering many of the oases of prayer on this list, guided tours do provide the occasional workaround. Get yourself on the Hassan II tour to admire the marble-covered washrooms and carved cedar wood sourced from Morocco’s own Middle Atlas Mountains.
2. Mohamed V, Agadir
Agadir’s Mohamed V mosque stands apart in that the outer facade of its main building is much more striking than the minaret. Its walls are awash with intricate deep-brown plasterwork, while gorgeous tiles frame the main door. This mosque is firmly off the beaten track. Don’t miss it, especially if you plan to spend a day or two in Agadir.
3. Sentissi mosque, Moulay Idriss
The Sentissi mosque is said to feature Morocco’s only cylindrical minaret, wrapped in a dark green tilework jacket inscribed with white Kufic-style Quranic verses. It is located in the small town of Moulay Idriss, under 2 hours’ driving west of Fez and its UNESCO World Heritage Site medina. That makes the Sentissi a great stopover for those en route to coastal towns like Casablanca, Rabat and Essaouira.
4. Tin Mal mosque, Tin Mal
The Tin Mal mosque in the eponymous mountain village was built in the 1100s. This sizeable, remote edifice is set against the majestic High Atlas mountains, which only adds to its appeal. It also served as the inspiration for the Koutoubia mosque in Marrakech. Open to non-Muslim visitors.
5. Sidi Bou Abib mosque, Tangier
Coastal Tangier is home to one of Morocco’s most underrated gems: the Sidi Bou Abib mosque. Dating back to 1917, this Moorish edifice stands tall in the medina, towering above the nearby Grand Socco shopping mall. The nondescript whitewashed walls of its main artery mean your eyes are instantly drawn to the colourful minaret, redolent in its pinks, greens and blues. Inside, you can feast your eyes on attractive tile work, geometric carpets and more. The mosque’s main entrance contrasts with its modest facade, with traditional arches and a large clock face adding to its beauty. Only open to worshippers.
Algeria’s amazing mosques
6. Great Mosque of Algiers, Algiers
Mosques are scattered throughout the capital of Africa’s largest country, and the Great Mosque of Algiers is arguably one of the entire continent’s most beautiful. The mesmerizing Djamaa al-Kabir (another of its appellations) is conveniently situated in the city’s historic kasbah district and virtually perched on its harbour front. One of the last remaining examples of Almoravid architecture, it is thought to be among Algiers’ oldest mosques – and numerous additions include its ornate gabled gallery from 1940.
In fact, the beauty of this whitewashed mosque with its terracotta ornamentation does not run skin deep. Inside, stunning mosaics decorate both the walls and floors, while its courtyard recalls the splendour of Andalusian palaces – a relic from the Spanish region’s former Arab occupiers. If you visit only one mosque in Algeria, make it this one.
7. Great Mosque of Tlemcen, Tlemcen
Tlemcen, or the ‘town of cherries’, is a top place to visit – and its Great Mosque one of its star attractions. Construction began in 1091 and much of it has since been rebuilt. This magnificent mosque is shaped like an irregular pentagon, its arches typical of the North African building style, making it a shining example of the colourful history of Islam and Algeria. 133 steps stand between visitors and the top of the minaret, and conservative dress is a must for anyone intent on gaining access.
8. Ketchaoua mosque, Algiers
Located at one of the steep stairways leading into the Casbah de Algiers is Ketchaoua, a mosque that fuses Byzantine and Moorish styles. Built in 1612, it has witnessed many occupations and even been converted to a cathedral and back again in 1962 in a move that buoyed Algeria’s friendship with Turkey.
Its initial religious repurposing thus accompanied one of the country’s worst bloodbaths (the Algerian War of Independence), but its beauty is second to none. Its lavishly tiled porticoes and octagonal twin minarets are stunners – and the interior boasts some excellent Moorish features. This mosque is a thing of beauty both inside and out.
9. Mosque of Emir Abdelkader, Constantine
At 107 m high, you cannot miss the twin minarets of Constantine’s most in-your-face structure, the Emir Abdelkader mosque, as you enter the city centre. Its prayer hall was built to accommodate 10,000 worshippers. However, erstwhile president Houari Boumediène turned its construction into an even more ambitious project, laying the groundwork for one of the planet’s biggest mosques. And Algeria’s first modern Islamic university. Meanwhile, its stunning mountain backdrop provides the icing on the cake. Unique, underrated, unmissable.
So, there you have it: nine mosques in two countries. And I haven’t even touched on the other architectural marvels the rest of North Africa can offer up. Have you visited any of the mosques on the list? Or is there another unmissable one you think we should include?
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Sources:
https://theculturetrip.com/africa/algeria/articles/the-most-beautiful-buildings-and-architecture-in-algeria/
https://theculturetrip.com/africa/algeria/articles/the-most-beautiful-mosques-in-algeria/
https://www.roughguides.com/destinations/africa/morocco/high-atlas/
https://theculturetrip.com/africa/morocco/articles/14-of-moroccos-most-stunning-mosques/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/the-mediterranean-coast-and-the-rif/tangier/attractions/sidi-bou-abib-mosque/a/poi-sig/1411827/355513
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https://www.algeria.com/attractions/religious-sites/great-mosque-of-tlemcen/
