Chefchaouen, Morocco
Mosque in Chefchaouen, Morocco
The Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen, al-Masjid al-A'zam or al-Jama' al-Kabir, is the oldest mosque and the main historic Friday mosque of this northern Moroccan town, on Place Outa el-Hammam, the lively heart of the medina, beside the historic kasbah. It dates from the town's earliest years after its foundation by Moulay Ali ibn Rashid al-Alami, though sources differ on the date: some say 1471, the year of the town's founding, one cites 1475 to 1476, and others place it in the 16th century under his son Mohammed. Its most distinctive feature is the octagonal minaret, thought to date from the late 17th century because of its resemblance to minarets built under Ali ibn Abdallah Errifi, governor of Tangier under Sultan Moulay Ismail, such as those of the Kasbah Mosque in Tangier and the Great Mosque of Asilah. Inside hangs an unusual carved wooden chandelier in the mihrab aisle, rare in its material and density of decoration. The mosque had a madrasa teaching religious sciences such as fiqh, with lodgings for students, and for centuries it was the centre of religious and scholarly life in Chefchaouen.
It is reserved for Muslim worshippers, as with most mosques in Morocco; others can admire the octagonal minaret from Place Outa el-Hammam. The best view is from the kasbah walls opposite, or at sunset. Those entering to pray should dress modestly; women use their own section. The square is lined with cafés, a perfect place for a break.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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