Casablanca Things to Do Tips by pabertra

Prayer Hall Hassan II Mosque Review

The prayer hall is elegantly designed in a palette of silvers and whites. Notice the small bags on the floor? Those are where people place their shoes while they pray.

Outside Prayer Area Hassan II Mosque Review

The outside prayer area can hold 80,000 people, that is if the inside is full with 25,000 people. The whole outside prayer idea is really unfounded as the mosque has more tourists than it does regular attendees. Anyhow it is still a beautiful area for some people watching.

World's Tallest Minaret Hassan II Mosque Review

The minaret at the Hassan II Mosque is the tallest in the world. It stands at 210 meters high and can be seen night and day from miles around.

The Hassan II Mosque Hassan II Mosque Review

This mosque was built for the 60th birthday of former Moroccan king Hassan II. The mosque is huge and is the second largest religious monument in the world after Mecca. It has space for 25,000 worshippers inside and another 80,000 outside. The minaret is 210m tall and is the tallest in the world.

The mosque has many modern features which include: earthquake resistance, heated floors, electric doors, a sliding roof, and lasers which shine at night from the top of the minaret toward Mecca.

Feelings about the mosque are mixed. On one hand, they are proud of the stunning mosque and on the other consider the 800 million dollar price tag too much.They feel the money could have been put to better use and they resent the fact that the building of the mosque necessitated the destruction of a fairly large, slummy section of Casablanca.

Moroccan Water Seller Hassan II Mosque Review

I spied this water seller amidst the crowd in the little garden. I would not recommend drinking the water they sell as tourists are recommended to keep to bottled water only. Also beware that almost everyone in Morocco expects you to pay to take their picture and they will try to negotiate ridiculous amounts of money for doing so. It is best to just tip them a few dirham and go about your way no matter how much they protest.

Publc Gathering Hassan II Mosque Review

In the little garden below the clock tower locals tend to congregate and socialize all through the afternoon. This is a great place to interact with the people or for the more reserved just to watch them. You are likely to be the only tourist there and they are most likely going to take a keen interest in you.

Me Hanging Out At the Mosque Hassan II Mosque Review

Here's a rare glimpse of me relaxing at one of the fountains. Before entering the mosque it is required that you remove your shoes. Remember to dress conservatively and try to avoid shorts despite the unrelenting heat. As you can see I chose to wear a bandanna as a headcovering although it is not required.

Detail of the Mosque Hassan II Mosque Review

Just wanted to show the detail in the patterns that adorn the mosque. Quite amazing!

Moroccan Design Hassan II Mosque Review

This is one of the entryways on the exterior of the mosque. It is one of the many amazing examples of Moroccan architecture you can find here.

Clock Tower Hassan II Mosque Review

This clock tower is iconic in the city. It proudly flies the Moroccan flag and towers over a nearby plaza where locals congregate and socialize.