Private Tour of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca

Before I knew it, it was time for my group tour of Morocco (A 10 Day Moroccan Adventure with Kim Larkin Adventures) to begin. After picking up all of the group from various hotels, our driver – Kamal – drove us to our first stop of the tour: Hassan II Mosque.

After viewing the mosque at night, during a tour the evening prior (Casablanca Walking Tour: History & Landmarks by Airbnb Experiences), I was very excited to tour the inside.

Greeting our tour guide, Ashia was a pleasure. She welcomed us with warmth and respect. With her depth of knowledge and storytelling, the mosque quickly transformed from an architectural marvel into a living, breathing symbol of Morocco’s spiritual and cultural identity.

Outside the Mosque

From the moment the mosque came into view, I understood why it dominates every postcard of Casablanca. Its 210 meter minaret, the tallest in the world, stands like a watchtower over the Atlantic.

Inside the Mosque

After we went through security screening and put our shoes in a sack, we made our way inside the mosque.

The mosque beautifully reflects Morocco’s natural resources and artisanal traditions. Ashia explained that the marble and granite used was sourced from the southern region of Morocco. The hand carved cedar wood was sourced from the Atlas Mountains. And the building’s massive titanium doors chosen for their resistance to rust – a necessity for a structure embraced by ocean air. Ashia also told us that the chandeliers held Murano glass in Venice, Italy.

Everything felt intentional, harmonious, and impossibly detailed. Standing within the mosque’s walls, I could feel the seamless blend of nature, craftsmanship, and engineering at work.

As she led us around the space, Ashia explained that part of the mosque is literally built over the ocean, supported by massive pillars anchored into the ocean – an intentional nod to a Quranic verse and Morocco’s long-standing connection to the sea.

And then she told me something extraordinary: The entire ceiling opens and closes. It is a retractable masterpiece that reveals the sky during special occasions like Ramadan, allowing worshippers to pray under the open heavens.

Ashia pointed out how every part of the mosque honors Morocco’s artisans: tileworkers, woodcarvers, stone masons, and metalworkers – all bringing generations of skill into one monumental project.

Downstairs

Descending into the Ablution Hall felt like entering another world. Supported by lotus-shaped marble fountains, this serene space is where worshippers perform cleansing rituals before prayer. Ashia described how the architecture mirrors spiritual intention – purity, renewal, and preparation.

She also explained the rhythm of daily prayer in Islam: sunrise, midday, afternoon, sunset, and evening – with each a moment a time to  pause and reflection on God’s meaning in your life.

At one point, she gently spoke about the shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith, highlighting how belief, practice, and community are intertwined in the mosque’s design.

Overall

Walking through the Hassan II Mosque with Ashia leading the group felt like a cultural and historical immersion. She helped us understand not only how the mosque was built, but why: to celebrate Moroccan craftsmanship, to reinforce national unity in the years following independence, and to create a monumental expression of faith.

The story of spirituality and faith was ever present. I felt that I didn’t need to be muslim in order to respect the love, reverence and devotion that I felt in the space.

Hassan II Mosque may be Morocco’s largest mosque –  but it is also one of the most extraordinary architectural achievements that I’ve toured.

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