The square is much more than a large urban space: it is a meeting point for its citizens and visitors, a hallmark of their cities, a heart in which social life beats. And with Mandala Tours, you can discover some of the best squares in the Muslim world. In this post we show you some of them.
Jemaa el Fna Square, Marrakech
Few squares are themselves Unesco World Heritage Sites. And this is one of them, not so much for the architecture that characterizes it, but for the genuine atmosphere that is lived here every day and every night. Its space is occupied by the stalls of a market where visitors can find everything from the sale of food to acrobatic shows or snake charmers. In addition, the red walls of the medina and the minaret of the Koutoubia mosque form a very picturesque backdrop to the square, considered the nerve center of Marrakech.
Uta el Hammam Square, Chaouen
Like the previous one, it is located at the foot of the medina, at its main entrance. And the atmosphere is also usually lively, in this case due to the existence of numerous locals in its perimeter. But there are two distinctive and iconic elements here. On the one hand, its kasbah or castle of the fourteenth century, now converted into an Ethnographic Museum. And on the other hand, its central monument, which is not the work of man but of nature: an imposing centennial cedar. And of course, an atmosphere bathed in blue, so characteristic of Chaouen, in the Rif Mountains.
Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul
Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul is named after 17th century Sultan Ahmed I, who, while not the most powerful ruler of the Ottoman Empire, was one of the most refined in terms of artistic tastes. In fact, he was the promoter of important buildings and mosques. However, you will also see it called Hippodrome Square, as it has this huge elongated space because this is precisely where the Roman circus of Constantinople was located, which fell into disuse after the Ottoman conquest. It still preserves some of the monuments that decorated the spina, such as the Serpentine Column, the Obelisk of Theodosius and the Obelisk of Constantine.
Konak Square, Izmir
Smyrna’s Konak Square is considered the nerve center and meeting point of the city. But it has a particularity that makes it different from the rest: it is located in front of the Aegean Sea, which gives it a special light and freshness. It is actually a very large space with landscaped areas, and the central monument, a true symbol of modern Smyrna, is the Clock Tower, built in 1901 by the French architect Raymond Charles Père. This ample space also houses the city’s City Hall and a large mosque, among other buildings.
Tahrir Square, Cairo
Finally, the most popular square in Egypt’s capital, Cairo, is Tahrir Square. The buildings that form it do not have, by far, the history of other buildings in the country, but in the center stands a monument that connects it with the glorious period of Ancient Egypt: the Obelisk of Ramses II, moved here in 2020. It is considered the heart of the city and it is no coincidence that important episodes in Egypt’s recent history have taken place here, such as the mobilizations during the Arab Spring in 2011. In addition, at one end of this large space is the Egyptian Museum, so it is a must for all tourists.
