One of the main attractions of Rabat, the capital of Morocco, is the famous Tower of Hassan. In the XII century Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour decided to build a new residence in Rabat with a mosque, which was to become the most majestic building in the Islamic world. Construction of the mosque began in 1195. It was built of pink stone. The main decoration of the mosque was lancet arches and a decorative bas-relief in the form of a lattice.
At that time, the Hassan Mosque had three courtyards, more than 400 columns and 16 doors. Its total area was to be over 25,000 square metres. The steps of the minaret were arranged in such a way that the sultan could climb to its very top without getting off his stallion. But the sultan's dream was never fulfilled. Unfortunately, in 1199 Yakub al-Mansur died before the construction work was completed. After the sultan's death, construction stopped. After some time, the building was dismantled. All that was left of it was the rubble, about 260 columns and the erected minaret-tower. In 1956, locals declared the minaret a national shrine.
The height of Hasan's tetrahedral tower is 44 metres, while it was planned to be more than 60 metres. The upper levels of the tower are decorated with patterns, while the lower levels and corners are smooth. Its main decoration is the lancet arches.
The tower looks especially beautiful during sunset, when the rays of the sun emphasise its silhouette in an extraordinary way. To date, the Tower of Hassan in Rabat is the symbol of the capital of Morocco.
