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MOROCCO - HASSAN TOWER AND MAUSOLEUM
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We
walked up the hill to visit the
Hassan tower soaring over Bou Regreg
and surrounded by gardens. The
entrance to the grounds was guarded
by horsemen dressed in full uniform.
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The
gardens were well kept and included
fountains of intricate blue ceramic
tilework. Fountains of this type are
seen all over Morocco as Muslims are
required to be clean in preparation
for ritual prayers. |
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The Hassan
Tower
The Rabat
landmark Hassan Tower is the minaret of
an incomplete mosque. 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, construction on the
mosque stopped. The tower only reached
44m (140ft), about half of its intended
86m (260ft) height. The rest of the
mosque was also left incomplete, with
only the beginnings of several walls and
200 columns being constructed. Hassan's
sister tower, the Giralda in
Seville, was also made
of red sandstone. |
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Mausoleum of
Mohammed V Sultan of Morocco from 1927 to 1953
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Opposite the
Hassan Tower is the Mausoleum of Mohammed
V, built in traditional Moroccan style,
The building is
considered a masterpiece of modern dynasty
architecture, with its white silhouette,
topped by a typical green tiled roof. Its
construction was completed in 1971.
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The
Mausoleum contains the tombs of the late
Moroccan king, Mohammed V, and his two
sons, King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah.
Hassan II, the present King's father,
was buried there following his death in
1999.
From the
overhead gallery, guarded by uniformed
sentries, we looked down on the tombs
and the elaborate decor of the
Mausoleum. |
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<<<Inside the
domes of the Mausoleum were majestically
beautiful.
Outside, the doors were guarded by sentinels toting
beautifully antique rifles engraved
stocks of ivory and wood.>>>
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As grandiose and
flashy as the Mausoleum was, the area was
surrounded by the typical slums of Morocco
residents.
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