Koutoubia is a mosque as well as its famous minaret, which was completed under the reign of Yacoub el-Mansour (1184-99). A masterpiece of Hispano-Moorish art, the 70m-tall minaret with a slender yet robust shape can be seen from far and wide. The walls are built of rubble stones in warm colours ranging from pink to red. The delicate sculpted decoration of the upper part, varying on each side, contrasts with the plain style of the base. A truly splendid creation.