The mosque of Ali Ben Youssef in Marrakech is one of the city's historical landmarks and ancient Muslim religious building. All urban neighborhoods built around this magnificent monument of Arab architecture.

The mosque was built in honour of Sidi Yusuf Ibn Ali of Sahaji. Today it is one of the seven patron saints of Marrakech. Sidi Yusuf Ibn Ali of Sahaji was sick with leprosy and lived in a cave. Muslims loved and honored him for his humility, deep faith and a righteous way of life.

The mosque has a very interesting history. It was originally built in the XII century by order of the Emir Ali Ibn Yusuf from the Almoravids. After the power came Almohads, who ruled Marrakesh in the second half of the XIIth century, the mosque building was almost completely destroyed. Re the mosque was built during the reign of the dynasty of Sadigov by order of the Moroccan ruler Abdallah al-Ghalib. He ordered to build the Church school-madrasa, operating today.

The total area of the mosque of Ali Ben Youssef is 9, 6 thousand sq. m. Initially, the architecture was almost the most simple of all possible options. In the XVI and XIX century underwent a large reconstruction of the Muslim temple, after which he was changed beyond recognition.

In the form of the mosque is very well seen Arab architecture of Marrakech. In its construction were used limestone, stone and cedar. Later the mosque was built onto the tower minaret with a height of 40 meters. The minaret can be seen from almost all points of the city.

To visit the mosque can only Muslims, people of other faiths the entrance is prohibited. Therefore, to appreciate the beauty of architectural structures, unfortunately, from outside. For non-Muslims still remains a mystery, actually looks like the interior of the mosque.