We are well travelled in North Africa and refused to use one taxi driver who was asking a ridiculous amount and would not agree to use his meter (I think 5 Euros, but it should have been less than than 2) We negotiated another driver down. The B&B price for the Parador was the same as our hol company, (TUI), were charging to take us up into the caldera at night, see the stars and wine and dine us in a much inferior restaurant - we reckon we got a much better deal! And also, within minutes of my first exploratory walk around the hotel, a bird pooped on me. King Hassan II stated in a speech on July 9th, 1980, that he wanted 'to build this mosque on the water, because God's throne was on water. It had rained the previous day. If people are not happy to go out on their own, there could be a case for using an excursion, but we prefer to be in charge of our own day and planning for it. [17] A particular feature in the mosque is that all structures are made of reinforced cement concrete and all decorations are of traditional Moroccan design. The decorations in the hall are elaborate and exquisite made possible by involving 6000 master artisans of Morocco working on it. Q&A with James Rodriguez, President & CEO of Atlas Ocean Voyages, Q&A: Cruise Insurance with Steve Dasseos of the TripInsuranceStore.com - Summer Session '23. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It is so large that it can easily accommodate the house of the NotreDameofParis or StPeter'sofRome. It's largest city Casablanca is home to the largest mosque in Morocco, and one of the largest in. 1 Why is the Hassan II mosque important? The source code for the WIKI 2 extension is being checked by specialists of the Mozilla Foundation, Google, and Apple. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 5 What is the Hassan II Mosque famous for? The local tourist info kiosk as you go out of the port, can advise regards the half hour tram journey to La Laguna (this is the same place as San Cristobal de la Laguna, mentioned in a previous post). But for those who do make the time to halt in the casa [house] blanca [white] town by the sea, the rewards are many, topped by a monumental mosque in honour of its past king, Hassan II. Granite from Tafraoute. Hassan II Mosque Located in Casablanca, the magnificent Hassan II Mosque is one of the city's most iconic sites. As we had paid full cruise fare we were not charged for the shuttle, but there was a minor charge for guarantee fare people. we have had that for so many holidays and we dislike the harassment that sometimes happens. This concept forms the very backbone and raison dtre of the Hassan II Mosque. We have sailed Carnival and Royal Caribbean and try to avoid to take their shore excursions as they are expensive and we also love to explore places on our own but in this case I feel tired already thinking of "endless discussions" we are familiar dealing with those barging prices as that is so common in these ports ( Egypt / Turkey ). Built as a tribute to the former king of Morocco, King Hassan II, it features intricate stonework and a stunning location on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. There is a charge (10 Euros - you would not need local currency for that) to do the tour of the mosque. NCL CASABLANCA HIGHLIGHTS & HASSAN II MOSQUE anyone - Cruise Critic Casablanca mosque is Completed in 1993, it was designed by Michel Pinseau and . yes we do understand there is never a guaranty if one is safe or not and yes we share the same idea about traveling as for us it is also an adventure wondering around worldwide seeing how people live and taste what they eat. Brits will be paying a lot more form now on to make up for the exchange rate . I use WIKI 2 every day and almost forgot how the original Wikipedia looks like. A post shared by Morocco World News (@moroccoworldnews), King Mohammed VI Authorizes Opening of 20 Mosques, 80% of Moroccans Report Praying Daily, Surpassing World Average of 49%, The Biggest Mosque in Africa is Now in Algeria, Not Morocco, Landmark Hassan II Mosque to Open Its Hammams to the Public, Morocco Switches Off Lights for Earth Hour on Saturday, Non-Muslims Flock To Hassan II Mosque Every Morning, 2022 Morocco World News, All Rights Reserved. The location of the mosque on an artificial peninsula is due to the fact that Hassan II, who ordered it to be built, was inspired by a verse in the Koran that speaks of "The throne of God was built upon the waters". You don't have to fret over Hassan ii Mosque ticket prices, as they are quite affordable. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. [3], The mosque is located at Bd Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah in Casablanca. It will enhance any encyclopedic page you visit with the magic of the WIKI 2 technology. Hassan II Mosque Casablanca, Morocco The main volume is 200m long, 100m large, and 65m high structure comprising the prayer room on the ground floor, and the ablution room and a public hammam in the basement, with its own entrance. I do not know what your ship may charge, but I suggest it is worth taking the shuttle into town (and may be needed as not sure you can walk in the docks). This is marked in the reinforced concrete (bton arm),which is able to resist against the combined effects of the wind and earthquakes. After spending a couple of hours or so in total at the mosque, we returned to the shuttle drop area (we asked for a hotel near the drop of, which I think was the Hilton) and walked around a bit and had a drink or two. Why? If you are there on a Friday you cannot go into the Mosque, but could still see the area around it and would be worth going there to see it. On that memorable day, all Muslims are in a festive mood and frequent holy shrines to read out psalms and praise the Almighty God. Please, select whether you would like to continue to the English website or remain on your current page. Improve this listing Tours & experiences But one thing is for sure: the minaret (the tower on top) is the tallest minaret in the world. Its layout is known as the basilican plan, which is different from the common practice of a T shaped plan adopted in many NorthAfrican countries. The museum opened its doors to the public after the construction of the mosque. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. NCL CASABLANCA HIGHLIGHTS & HASSAN II MOSQUE anyone ? They began building in 1989, and incredibly finished just 6 years later in 1993. Structural deterioration in the concrete wall was observed ten years after the mosque's completion. The Spectacular Hassan II Mosque. - Leighton Travels! Also Santa Cruz / Tenerife is a problem as I could find no one who offers tour to the Teide from Santa Cruz and renting a car is too much of a hassle so paying" too much money " and getting stuck with cattle busses is probably our only option. (LogOut/ The design of this work was the result of collaboration between the office of the French architect Michelle PINSEAU and the various Moroccan artisanal bodies that have created and revive by the hand of malem (master) beauty and the splendid seal of Moroccan architecture. Unlike the others, it is recent. The rulers were called Sultans till 1957. 8 reasons why hassan II mosque tops the casablanca travel bucket list Afternoon Hours - 3 pm and 4 pm. Called B.H.P (highly resistant concrete), it offers a resistance to compression value of 1200 bars per sqcm (claimed to be a world record) and has a very quick setting time. You do not need a tour and there were no safety issues beyond what you would have in any large city. Hence, there are design components from other Moroccan mosques such as the incomplete Tour Hassan in Rabat, al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fes, and Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, as well as the great mosques of Algiers, Cordoba, Damascus, Israel, Medina, and Tunisia. [21], Minaret's reflection on the Atlantic water. we leave on Monday, no rain and a little sunshine that is all I ask for. [11] Six thousand traditional Moroccan artisans worked for five years to create the abundant and beautiful mosaics, stone and marble floors and columns, sculpted plaster moldings, and carved and painted wood ceilings. The Mosque measures 200 meters in length and 100 meters in width. The building of the Hassan 2 mosque on the Atlantic Ocean inspired by the Qur'anic verse "the throne of God was upon the water"was a pioneering idea intended to invite believers who go to this mosque to remember the greatness of God who created the sea and the sky. Made from individually chiselled geometric tiles set into plaster, it has its origins in Al-Andalus and dates back to the 8th Century AD. History | La Fondation de la Mosque Hassan II de Casablanca So do be aware and do not take any valuables you do not need ashore. So there is an error, somewhere. That day coincided with the eve of the Prophet Mohammads birthday. From the nearest train station at Casa-Port it is about a 20-minute walk to the mosque. All I know is that I felt threatened, unsafe, unsure of what the attractions were and quite disappointed by the ugly commercial buildings scattered around the city. With exotic imperial cities and the Sahara Desert vying for attention instead, a port city is not exactly unmissable. Powered by Invision Community. 3 How long did the Hassan II mosque take to build? The main message behind the mosque is as beautiful as its construction: peace, love and tolerance. The walls are of hand-crafted marble and the roof is retractable. [Note: This blog post is part of a series from my travels to Moroccofor 3 weeks in November-December, 2018. It can affect decisions whether to DIY or book the ship's tours. Culture The Hassan II Mosque: a Jewel of Moroccan Sacred Art Staff Writer July 20, 2016 2:50 p.m. By Mounir Haissour Tetouan - Art lovers over the world enthusiastically agree that the. The floor is made from glass, so the ocean below can be viewed and worshippers can pray over the sea. There were some taxis available at the port, but I know of one passenger who reluctantly paid a $20 tip requested by the driver, rather than get into an argument. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We had two one month cruises arranged (for this month and Feb next year) with Voyages of Discovery, but they went down a month ago. People staying in hotels will be much more knowing about the local taxi fares, so not such an easy target to rip off. There are stitches of roudani tracetine on a 100,000 MP surface. Within the city, the Mosque is certainly a big attraction and rightly so. Non-Muslim visitors may enter the mosque on guided tours, which take place several times a day in English. Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque: the 'World's Most Beautiful Religious It is the largest functioning mosque in Africa and is the 7thlargest in the world. The construction work involved engagement of 35,000 workers and working of over 50 million hours. The garden around the mosque is well tended and is a popular location for family picnics. that is why I am so happy with your update regarding safety. Please click on the sign in button to log in again. [21] This involved use of moly-grade stainless steel combined with high-grade concrete to make the structure resistant to chloride attack, a process that evolved during 3 years of research. Geography The mosque is located at Bd Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah in Casablanca. But not before he took us through a guided visit of the citys only landmark (Ricks Caf doesnt count, as it was solely built to fool ignorant tourists), the grandioseHassan II Mosque. As a result, it is world-renown as a stunning example of Islamic sacred art. How long did the Hassan II mosque take to build? The gates are embellished with marble bars which have faux voussoirs (alternately smooth or sculpted). The construction works started under the effective and daily supervision of His Majesty Hassan II, who had made sure that this great building reflects the artistic specificities of authentic Moroccan architecture, while highlighting its openness to technological innovations. [1] It was commissioned by Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur, the third Caliph of the Almohad Caliphate, near the end of the 12th century. The Only Reason Why You Should Visit Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque The traditionally designed madrasa occupies an area of 4,840 square metres (52,100sqft) including the basement. We did not walk between the drop off point and the Mosque as I had mentioned, but just in the area easily walkable from the drop off point and near to the Mosque. [8], The prayer hall is built to a rectangular plan of 200 metres (660ft) length and 100 metres (330ft)[20] width with three naves, which are perpendicular to the qibla wall. At 210 meters, its minaret is the tallest building in Morocco and the tallest minaret in the world; on top of it, laser beams point towards Mecca, assisting . A masterpiece of Arab-Muslim architecture, the Hassan 2 Mosque is one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the world. [10] Its environmental advantage is that it is free of noise and pollution and receives a fresh breeze from the sea.[4]. There are features from an old Roman fort converted into the tomb of KingMohammedVofRabat. This is expected to enhance the building's life by 100 years. A shorter tour with the ship would have cost 62pp. Erected at the western tip of the Islamic World, opposite the setting sun, the fog and the swell of the open sea, the building is at the uttermost end of Islamic lands - a religion that was born in the Orient and whose extreme west is Morocco. Are there no excursions you can sign up for? Even though the many structural changes were made as per detailed design, still during execution of works, 100 external pillars, called combs because of their wave breaking characteristics, were exposed to salt water and wave action and had to be replaced with new pillars. Also, like many poorer countries, the pavements were not good in places, so it would be quite easy to trip over. This building was thus inaugurated on the occasion of the celebration by the Muslim world of aid al mawlid 12 Rabi I 1414 AH corresponding to August 30, 1993. After 7 years of sustained work, the Hassan II Mosque was inaugurated by His Majesty King Hassan II and other African leaders on August 30, 1993, the 11thRabi II, 1414 in the Islamic calendar. The ten-lane boulevard with shopping avenues is at the southern facade of the mosque and extends to the gates of the Palace Oued el Makhazine in the middle of the city. That night we just walked small way out from the Parador and saw the milky way very clearly - no light pollution at all. In fact, it is just 25 years old. A very memorable holiday altogether, so finding a hotel in a not so busy area is well worth it - not everywhere in Tenerife is the head banging tourist resorts and you can get some good prices in the low season. This is what the Hassan II Mosque on the shores of the ice-blue Atlantic Ocean in Moroccos northern coast looked like when I landed up at its doorstep one wintry morning in November. This page was last edited on 23 July 2023, at 10:01, OldMosque(MosqueoftheKasbahoftheUdayas), Listofuniversities,collegesandschools, AcadmieinternationaleMohammedVIdel'aviationcivile, LycefranaisinternationalLouis-Massignon, 105,000 (25,000 indoors, additional 80,000 on Mosque's grounds). You will love the visit. I could not have summarized it better. The central nave is larger and higher than the rest. [21] The roof is covered with cast-aluminium tiles, (similar to the Fez tiles), stronger and more reliable than traditional ceramic tiles, and about 35 percent lighter. Hassan ii Mosque tickets are easily available over the counter, however, as you buy tickets for Hassan ii Mosque tours, you get to know its history and architecture better. What makes Casablancas Al-Aqsa Mosque so special? This was achieved by the Science Department of the Bouygues Group, the contractors for the project, who developed an extra-strength concrete four times stronger than ordinary concrete. However, if you are a non-Muslim, I bet you are confused to bits on what this means. In the second phase, the voids seen in the prayer hall were filled with concrete. I believe it can be done by train, but depends on time available and it could just be a lot easier to go with the trip. It has three naves perpendicular to theqibla wall. I travel with my husband, but unaccompanied women can be hassled somewhat in North Africa. Hopefully you will get some tour information on myncl soon. The distance to the mosque from the port has to be added to the distance to the port gate from the ship's location. The king Hassan II Casablanca mosque is the largest mosque in Africa paper writers college interesting research topics for high school students, and the 5th largest in the world. Please click on the sign in button to log in again. May I ask why the walk was not recommended ? I printed out a walking map ( too far to the mosque, I know ) so we would probably take the shuttle to town and walk from there or I do hope there are more people getting off by their own and want to share a taxi. We visited the mosque a few years back as part of a private tour I had setup to include a visit to Rabat. How to Visit the Hassan II Mosque (And Not Look Like an Idiot) Hassan II Mosque - Wikipedia This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. [21] This enabled the building of a taller structure with due underpinning of the foundation, while adhering to the construction schedule. The pillars of 13 metres (43ft) height are square in shape with engaged columns and cruciform joining a series of pillars. Seems to be a sign of the times that any new smaller ships are in the very high price bracket - shame form our point of view as we travel for the ports and the large ships do not have itineraries to interest us. Everyone has to make their own decisions, but I really do think time may be better spent in other parts of the city if you only have the one day there. Hassan II Mosque. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was built to be a symbol of tolerance and respect, allowing different cultures to understand each other and acquire a greater knowledge of Islam. I want to build this mosque on the water, because God's throne is on the water. As mentioned in an earlier post, I believe visiting times for the mosque can be restricted for non Muslims. Add to this list, extensive plaster-work, innumerable marble columns and floors, and titanium and bronze doorways. For me, that was Casablanca. There were other people on the ship who did not like this port as they prefer a more holiday like environment. The base to the top width ratio of 1 to 8 (between basement and the summit) has a marble covering on the exterior with austere decoration. The concrete quantity poured involved 100,000 cubic metres (3,500,000cuft) of non-reinforced bulk concrete and 10,000 cubic metres (350,000cuft) of high-strength concrete. While Hassan wished to build a mosque which would be second in size only to the mosque at Mecca, the government lacked funds for such a grand project. Hassan II Mosque. Well, according to the Koran, Allahs throne is on the water. I hope you enjoy your walk. The idea of building a large mosque in Casablanca reflects the Royal will to provide the Casablanca metropolis with a great spiritual and civilizational monument of Morocco, giving it a harmonious urban development and allowing it to increase its radiance and influence based on faith, piety and tolerance. [14] Twelve million people donated to the cause, with a receipt and certificate given to every donor. We are very well travelled in North Africa, so we always dress down and make sure we appear purposeful rather that strolling around looking at everything around us. :), Thanks Rosebuds, also this is very helpfull Good night . We walked off from the shuttle drop and picked up a taxi further away, and would have walked out of the port and picked up a taxi a bit further away, so we were not obviously cruisers, (who will be considered gullible). We made sure we paid much nearer the real rate and the meter was used or we found another taxi, but could well be easier to go with the flow rather than get in a tassle if they are charging 5 Euros. Whilst corporates and the Arab countries paid for part of the mosque, a sizable chunk came from 12 million Moroccan citizens who funded it through public subscription. That's it. We found the Trip Advisor forums very useful for the Morrocan ports as you get more response from regular travellers to there, who were very helpful to me. One of the biggest money making things by any cruise line is the excursions, so I am sure there will be some for you. Because of its perfect combination of modern and ancient Islamic artistic traditions, the Hassan II Mosque is an elegant expression of Islams spirituality and a magnificent example of Moroccan architecture. The mosque cost around $800 million and was completely funded by donations from the Muslim community around the world. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The idea to build the Hassan II Mosque was first conceived in 1984. The Hassan II mosque in Casablanca - Touring In Morocco However, if you head to the coast and feel the breeze from the Atlantic Ocean, you'll find the true gem of the city, the Hassan II Mosque.. Towering over the Casablanca coastline, this exquisitely decorated and opulent mosque is the 2nd largest functioning mosque in Africa . We also were lucky to have been traveling a bit all over the world ( countries with all kind of religion and habits ) so we do now how to behave. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. There were many street hawkers between the bus stop and the market, but there were none in evidence inside the souk walls. thank you so much for your help regarding Casablanca, we'd love to walk distance is never an issue, safety can be. Hassan II Mosque Casablanca - Morocco - All You Need To Know, 2023 The minaret is said to enhance the visual alignment of the boulevard. Archnet > Site > Hassan II Mosque The walk is approximately 30 minutes, but not recommended. Hassan II Mosque 4.5 9,235 reviews #1 of 97 things to do in Casablanca Religious Sites Visit website Write a review About This stately mosque, a fine example of pure Moroccan architecture, is the only one in the city that non-Muslims may visit.