The most famous landmark of Sousse is the Grand Mosque. It was erected in 850-851 by Emir Abul Abbaz Mohammed of the Aglabid dynasty. The building was built similar to the Cairoan mosque of Sidi Okba. The courtyard and galleries of the mosque were built in the 1650s, and the entire complex, including the prayer rooms, was restored in the 1960s and 1970s.
The mosque is easily recognisable by its unusual appearance, as it looks more like a building with two watchtowers at the south-eastern and northern ends, i.e. a kind of military building. This plan of the mosque is not accidental - it used to be a defensive structure. In times of wars with Christians the mosque increased in sizes - new halls and passages were completed. The main feature of the mosque is the minaret, to which a staircase leads from the courtyard. Numerous loopholes were cut in the walls of the building facing the courtyard. Each loophole is decorated with semi-circular arches and painted with Kufi pattern. In the 20th century the building was returned to its original appearance, removing some relatively recent constructions.
The architectural composition of the mosque incorporates several styles, including Roman: the prayer halls and galleries of the inner courtyard are decorated with Roman columns with elaborately carved marble capitals. The ceiling of the galleries is painted and decorated with vaulted carved constructions.
The mosque has a museum with many relics open to all visitors, but only Muslims are allowed to enter the prayer halls.
