rabat, piata regala

Hassan Tower Rabat,Maroc, or Tour is the minaret of an incomplete mosque in Rabat, Morocco. Begun in 1195 AD, the tower was intended to be the largest minaret in the world along with the mosque, also intended to be the world's largest. In 1199, Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour died and construction on the mosque stopped. The tower only reached 44 m, about half of its intended 86 m height. The rest of the mosque was also left incomplete, with only the beginnings of several walls and 200 columns being constructed. On the side of the Hassan Tower is the mausoleum where King Mohamed V lies. This eight century old tower, adorned by beautiful gardens around it, was listed as world heritage site by UNESCO in the year 1995. The site also houses the Mosque and Mausoulem of Mohammed V and it is the place where he on retuning from exile, gathered thousands of Moroccans to thank God who gifted independence of their country to them. It is among the few sacred sites where non Muslims are allowed to enter. The tower, made of red sandstone, along with the remains of the mosque and the modern Mausoleum of Mohammed V, forms an important historical and tourist complex in Rabat.