The minaret's design includes internal ramps rather than stairs to allow a muezzin to ascend on horseback to make the call to prayer.
Construction was abandoned at 44 meters, leaving the tower with a square base of 16 meters on each side.
The surrounding site features hundreds of truncated stone columns left behind after the 1755 earthquake destroyed the planned mosque roof.
The architectural style is heavily influenced by the Giralda in Seville and the Koutoubia in Marrakesh, all commissioned by the same Almohad dynasty.
The site shares its esplanade with the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, completed in 1971, which features an ornate design by Vietnamese architect Eric Vo Toan.
The Hassan Tower is an iconic, incomplete minaret commissioned in 1195 by Sultan Yaqub al-Mansur. Intended to be the world's largest minaret, construction ceased following the Sultan's death in 1199. The tower stands 44 meters tall, roughly half its planned height. It is constructed from reddish sandstone and features intricate, unique decorative motifs on each of its four facades. The surrounding site contains the remnants of 348 columns belonging to the planned mosque, which was heavily damaged in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The base of the tower is adorned with patterns known as sebka. The site is now part of an ensemble that includes the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, which houses the tomb of the late King and his sons. The grounds are expansive and serve as a symbol of Rabat's Almohad architectural history. The tower is officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Rabat modern and historic city complex.
From the far end of the column field looking back toward the tower, which allows for the inclusion of the truncated stone columns in the frame.
Walk the entire perimeter of the column field to appreciate the scale of the original intended mosque layout.
Visit the adjacent Mausoleum of Mohammed V to see the traditional Moroccan craftsmanship and ceiling mosaics.
Bring sun protection as the site is an open, exposed esplanade with very limited shade.
Do not attempt to climb the tower; it is structurally closed to the public and fenced off.
Respectful attire is required when entering the nearby Mausoleum of Mohammed V, covering shoulders and knees.
