Sidi Okba Mosque (Great Mosque)

Sidi Okba is the oldest mosque in Kairouan. It was built in 670 and was small in size. However, it has been rebuilt and expanded several times. Today it is a quadrangular structure, the length of parallel walls reaches 120 meters. The sparing exterior architecture makes the mosque look more like a fortress. However, this is compensated by beautiful interiors. The vaults of the huge prayer hall support 414 marble columns. The walls are also covered with marble panels with openwork carvings. Built in the late 9th century, the minaret of the mosque is also one of the oldest such structures.