Share

Share

_Great Mosque of Testour

Information

The mosque is located in the heart of the city of Testour. It is a rare synthesis of local Ifriqiyan traditions and Hispano-Moresque decorative and architectural techniques. The sober east of the structure shows the impact of Mudejar Art.  The patron of this mosque is Muhammad Tagharinu, emigre of Andalusian origin who settled at Testour in AH 1018 (AD 1609).

The roofs of the courtyard are covered in hollow tiles of reddish colour. Four galleries covered with tiles frame the courtyard. Three doors open under the South-East gallery give access to the prayer room. In this same gallery is a mihrab used by the faithful praying in the courtyard.

The minaret rises on the North-East façade and is made up of a 4.52m square tower crowned with octagonal towers decorated with chaining of bricks and rubble stones which recalls the church of del Cristo de la Luz and the Puerta del Sol in Toledo. It is enveloped in adornment decorated with a skylight illuminating the staircase, pinnacles, a cornice of twin bay windows, marble and earthenware panels, sawtooth merlons, a crowned pyramid an ear of corn with three strung balls and a croissant. On the south face of the minaret is a clock that runs backwards.

The prayer hall is also covered with a tiled roof. A cupola covers the space in front of the Mihrab. It is a hemispherical dome surmounted by a lantern, itself covered with a half-sphere. The prayer hall measures 25m by 18.5m and has 9 naves and 7 bays. Ancient capitals were used to build the prayer hall. There are two cupolas: one preceding the mihrab and another located in the middle nave on the fourth bay starting from the courtyard.

References

http://zaherkammoun.com/2017/03/21/la-grande-mosquee-de-testour/

https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;isl;tn;mon01;3;en

 

Mosque Data

Architect

Type

Local

Country

Tunisia

Owner/Founder

The Tunisian Government

Year

1631

Area

1600 m2

Drawings

Interactive Map

Mosque Data

Architect

Type

Local

Country

Tunisia

Owner/
Founder

The Tunisian Government

Year

1631

Area

1600 m2

Want to add some changes to this page?

Related Publications

Related Experts

Share

All Rights Reserved | Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecure © 2024

Please Sign In

Register

Suggest an edit

Your Contact Details

I agree to the terms outlined below:

You agree to upload and assign Mosqpedia Database the rights to use the content worldwide and in perpetuity across all current and future media platforms. Mosqpedia Database may edit, copy, adapt and translate your contribution.

The content will be distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Deed – Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International – Creative Commons

All data will be stored in line with data protection regulations.

Upload Images

I agree to the terms outlined below:

You agree to upload and assign Mosqpedia Database the rights to use the content worldwide and in perpetuity across all current and future media platforms. Mosqpedia Database may edit, copy, adapt and translate your contribution.

The content will be distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Deed – Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International – Creative Commons

All data will be stored in line with data protection regulations.

Guidance Regarding Image Size

You’re leaving us?