Rome’s Grand Mosque: Europe-style Islamic Architecture

Designed by Italian architect Paolo Portoghesi with the collaboration of Iraqi architect Sami Mousawi and Italian engineer Gigliotti, Rome’s grand mosque is located in the exclusive Parioli neighborhood and is reportedly one of the largest (if not the largest) in Europe.

History of the Grand Mosque of Rome

Mutual talks about the project started in the early 1970s between Italy and Saudi Arabia, with Rome’s Council chipping in with a donation of a 30,000-square-meter land at the foot of Monte Parioli near the Tiber river and Villa Ada, one of the city’s most beautiful parks.

Funded by several donors, including the Saudi King Faisal and Prince Muhammad Hasan of Afghanistan in exile in Rome with his wife Princess Razia, construction works of Rome’s grand mosque kicked off in 1984 and in 1995 it officially started its activities as the Italia Islamic Cultural Center.

At the time of construction, a logistic issue arose: the height of the minarets. There was no way the Pope was going to accept it being taller than St. Peter’s dome. So finally, the issue was resolved by making the minarets shorter that St. Peter’s cupola.

Inside Rome's grand mosque

Description of Rome’s Grand Mosque

The main geometric patterns used by the architects are squares and circles, with the first symbolizing the earth and mankind, and the latter standing for the sky and the divine. The constant interplay of these two motifs represents the eternal struggle of men to reach the transcendent.

The mosque’s seventeen domes are made by 7 concentric circles representing the 7 heavens mentioned in the Quran, and the 16 smaller domes around the biggest one in the middle suggest the sky’s cosmic image. From different angles, shapes of windows, and positions, the lights create a mystic effect.

Entrance to Rome's grand mosque
Entrance to Rome’s grand mosque

While Rome’s grand mosque doesn’t look like the worship places I have visited in Muslim countries around the world, it does feature some of the elements that reminded me of them. Such as the geometric patterns you can see in the photo below. I have seen similar patterns in the mosques in Iran and Afghanistan, so from a Persian artistic background. Those in Iran (especially Yazd Grand Mosque) and Afghanistan (in the beautiful grand mosque in Herat city), however, feature much more sophisticated decorations of fine mosaics, tilework, and paintings.

Detail of wall decoration of the grand mosque of Rome
Detail of wall decoration

Like all mosques, also the floor of Rome’s grand mosque is covered with carpet. The rug of the grand mosque of Rome is blue and features a creamy and black flowery pattern.

One of the most important features is the mehrab, the niche pointing towards Mecca and from where the Imam does the prayer.

Image: Carpet of Rome's grand mosque

The mosque interior features sets of white tri-stemmed pillars to give the idea of a forest. Nature has always an important meaning in Islam and largely used in Persian art and architecture because it refers to the sacred idea of Heaven.

Image: Pillars inside Rome's mosque
Pillars inside the mosque

With a capacity of some 12.000 people, as soon as you enter, the first thing you’ll notice is the mix between contemporary Western architecture and traditional Islamic elements including the Ottoman and the Persian styles. Before accessing the mosque, you will pass through an arcaded courtyard, feature that I have seen also in Iranian mosques.

While you are going to see beautiful decorative patterns and colors, you won’t find any picture or images of either humans or animals because this is forbidden in Islam. The decorations show flowers and natural elements as well as calligraphy and verses from the Quran.

More decoration on walls and partition walls
More decoration on walls and partition walls

Like in every Islamic worship place, also in the grand mosque of Rome women have their own specific area for praying. In this specific mosque, you will access it via a large staircase.

Rome’s grand mosque is an important landmarks for Muslims in Rome and Italy. This is where they perform the important Friday prayer, but also where they celebrate important rituals, conversions, Islamic weddings (niqah) as well as funerals.

Stairs to the women's praying area in Rome's grand mosque
Stairs to the women’s praying area
Stairs to women's praying area on a different angle in the grand mosque of Rome
Stairs to women’s praying area on a different angle

Where It Is and How to Reach Rome’s Grand Mosque

  • Address: Viale della Moschea 85.
  • How to get there: From Flaminio metro station (line A), get to the train station of Roma-Viterbo railway (in front of the metro entrance) and take the train towards Montebello for three stops. Get off at Campi Sportivi stop which is close to the mosque.
  • Visiting hours: Wednesday and Saturday 9 am to 12 pm. Visits are suspended during the month of Ramadan, during Islamic as well as Italian festivities, and in August. Groups need to book emailing segreteria.66centroislamico@hotmail.it or visitemoschea@hotmail.it. To inquire about prayer time email mawaqit@gmail.com.
  • Phone: 06 8082258 – 06 8082167
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About The Author: Angela Corrias

Hi, my name is Angela Corrias! I am an Italian journalist, photographer, and blogger living in Rome. After over ten years of living abroad, I finally came to the conclusion that in order to better organize my future adventures, I needed a base. Since I know and love Rome so much, I moved back to the Eternal City. This is how Rome Actually was born. Here, I cover everything about Rome, from the local food to the culture to Roman history.

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