Hassan Tower

Rabat, Morocco

The unfinished minaret of a mosque that was intended to be the largest in the world. Construction stopped when Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur died in 1199. The remaining tower and 348 columns are iconic symbols of Rabat.

Historical Context

Yaqub al-Mansur commissioned the mosque after his great victory over the Christians at the Battle of Alarcos (1195). The minaret reached 44 meters (of a planned 86) before construction ceased upon the caliph's death. An earthquake in 1755 further damaged the site.