Koutoubia Mosque

Every building in Marrakech medina must be shorter than the Koutoubia minaret. The law has held for eight centuries. At 77 meters, the tower still defines the skyline — a beacon visible from the Atlas Mountains and the starting point for every journey into the city. The Almohad sultan Abd al-Mu'min built the mosque in the 12th century, then tore it down and rebuilt it when he discovered the mihrab didn't face Mecca precisely. The minaret survived both versions. Its proportions — 1:5 ratio of width to height — became the template for the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat. Non-Muslims cannot enter, but the exterior rewards attention. The decorative stonework changes on each face — a different pattern of interlocking arches climbing toward the copper orbs at the summit. The gardens beside the mosque offer the best vantage at sunset, when the stone turns rose gold. Best time: Sunset, from the gardens Allow: 30 minutes Combine with: Jemaa el-Fna (5-minute walk)