Great Mosque

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    Plaque 2, Old City
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Built on the remains of a 12th century Crusader cathedral dedicated to St Mary of the Tower, construction of the Great Mosque , known as Jami al-Kabir in Arabic, begun in 1294 after the cathedral was destroyed by the Mamluks. Completed in 1315, probable traces of the 700-year-old structure can still be seen in the mosque's attractive northern entrance, while the distinctive square minaret may once have been the original cathedral's bell tower.

Inside, a large courtyard is surrounded by porticos on three sides, and a domed and vaulted prayer hall on the fourth.Women are expected to don one of the gowns provided and cover their heads before entering the Great Mosque.