Mosque of Rome
Quick Facts
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The Mosque of Rome (Italian: Moschea di Roma) with an area of 30,000 m², is the largest mosque in Western Europe and can accommodate twelve thousand people.
It is located in the Acqua Acetosa area, at the foot of the Monti Parioli, north of the city. As well as being the city's mosque it is the seat of the Centro Culturale Islamico d'Italia (The Italian Islamic Cultural Centre). In addition to being a meeting place for religious activities, it provides cultural and social services variously connecting Muslims. It also holds wedding ceremonies, funeral services, exegesis, conventions, and other related events.
It is located in the Acqua Acetosa area, at the foot of the Monti Parioli, north of the city. As well as being the city's mosque it is the seat of the Centro Culturale Islamico d'Italia (The Italian Islamic Cultural Centre). In addition to being a meeting place for religious activities, it provides cultural and social services variously connecting Muslims. It also holds wedding ceremonies, funeral services, exegesis, conventions, and other related events.
History of Mosque
The mosque was jointly founded by the exiled Prince Mohammad Hasan of Afghanistan and his wife, Princess Razia Begum and was financed by Faisal of Saudi Arabia, head of the Saudi royal family, as well as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The project was designed and directed by Paolo Portoghesi, Vittorio Gigliotti and Sami Mousawi.
Its construction took more than ten years: the Roman City Council donated the land in 1974, but the first stone was not laid for another ten years, in 1984, in the presence of then President of the Italian Republic Sandro Pertini, with its inauguration on June 21, 1995.
Its construction took more than ten years: the Roman City Council donated the land in 1974, but the first stone was not laid for another ten years, in 1984, in the presence of then President of the Italian Republic Sandro Pertini, with its inauguration on June 21, 1995.
Architecture and Design
The functional requirements for the design of the center included designing a prayer area which would accommodate 2500 worshippers, and which would be served by ablution areas. In addition, the design was to include a smaller prayer hall which would accommodate 150 worshippers, an educational section containing a library and classrooms, a conference auditorium for 400 people, an exhibition area, and two residential apartments, one for the imam of the mosque and the other for visitors. In plan, the complex consists of two parts. The first is a rectangular prayer hall measuring about 60 x 40m with the longer sides facing the Qibla (The Southeast). The second part approximates the shape of an "H" and houses the remaining functions of the complex except for the ablution facilities, which are located beneath the prayer hall. A water channel runs along the longitudinal axis of the H-shaped mass and connects two pools, one located in the centre of the mass and another to the Northeast. The longest side of the H-shaped mass, which faces the Northwest, curves away from the complex and toward the city, while the other long side of the H-shaped mass curves toward the prayer hall. The minaret is located southwest of the prayer hall, close to where the H-shaped mass and the prayer hall meet. The prayer hall is raised 8 metres above ground level, with the ablution area occupying part of the volume underneath. The space of the prayer hall contains two symmetrically arranged gallery floors that run perpendicular to the Qibla wall. Together, the galleries provide a space for female worshippers about a fourth of the size of the main prayer hall located below them. The prayer hall is articulated by a large central dome with a diameter of over 20 metres. 16 smaller domes surround the large central one. All of the domes are covered with lead and each is articulated with ribs meeting at its apex.