Grand Mosque of Tangier

The Grand Mosque of Tangier sits on Rue Ben Abou in the heart of the old medina in northern Morocco, close to the Kasbah and the Petit Socco. Local tradition holds that the site was previously occupied by earlier religious buildings, including a Roman temple and, during the Portuguese period of the 15th and 16th centuries, a church. After the English left Tangier in 1684 and the city returned to the Alawite state, the principal mosque was rebuilt in the Moroccan style, and it was later rebuilt and enlarged in the late 18th century. The building is a congregational mosque with a prayer hall supported on rows of arches, a courtyard and a minaret. The minaret is square and tiled with green and white geometric decoration, which is typical of northern Moroccan mosques. The structure reflects the Andalusian-influenced architecture of the north, with horseshoe arches, wooden ceilings and tile bands. Non-Muslims are not admitted to the interior, as is the rule at working mosques in Morocco, so the experience is exterior viewing from the street, with glimpses of the courtyard through the doors when open. The mosque anchors the religious life of the medina and gives its name to the surrounding neighbourhood in local usage. It has been maintained by the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs, which funds periodic repairs of roofs, tilework and the minaret. Its condition is good and it remains in daily use for the five prayers and Friday congregations. Visitors who approach respectfully can appreciate the minaret, the doorways and the atmosphere of the street, particularly around the call to prayer.