The Koutoubia Mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakech, Morocco. The mosque is also known by several other names, such as Jami ‘al-Kutubiyah, the Kotoubia mosque, the Kutubiya mosque, the Kutubiyyin mosque and the booksellers’ mosque. It is located in the southwest medina district of Marrakech. The mosque is decorated with curved windows, a ceramic strip, pointed merlons and decorative arches; it has a large square with gardens, and is lit at night. The 773-meter (253-foot) minaret includes an arrow and orbs. It was completed during the reign of the Berber Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansour (1184-1199), and inspired other buildings such as the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat.

Saadian Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour Ed Dahbi spared no expense on his tomb, importing Italian Carrara marble and gilding honeycomb muqarnas (decorative plasterwork) with pure gold to make the Chamber of 12 Pillars a suitably glorious mausoleum. Al Mansour died in splendour in 1603