KLIK SAJA - The Rome Mosque, known in Italian as Moschea di Roma, is located in the Parioli district of Rome, Italy. It is the largest mosque in Europe—and in the Western world—in terms of land area.
Covering approximately 30,000 square meters (320,000 square feet), the mosque can accommodate more than 12,000 worshippers.
The mosque is situated in the Acqua Acetosa area, at the foothills of the Parioli Mountains, in the northern part of Rome.
It also serves as the headquarters of the Centro Culturale Islamico d’Italia (Islamic Cultural Center of Italy).
Beyond its role as a place of worship, the mosque functions as a cultural and social center, fostering connections between the Muslim community and the predominantly Catholic Italian population.
Remarkably, the mosque was built with the blessing of Pope John Paul II, after facing initial opposition from far-right groups in Italy.
The mosque hosts various religious and community activities, including educational programs, weddings, funerals, Qur’anic interpretation, exhibitions, conventions, and other events, despite being located in an area with a relatively small Muslim population.
Uniquely, the idea of building the mosque was initiated in the 1970s by Prince Muhammad Hasan of Afghanistan, who was in exile at the time, and his wife, Princess Razia.
The construction was financed primarily by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, along with contributions from other Muslim-majority countries, including Bangladesh under President Hussain Muhammad Ershad.
The project was designed and led by architects Paolo Portoghesi, Vittorio Gigliotti, and Sami Mousawi. The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Pope John Paul II.
The planning process for the mosque took over a decade.
The Rome City Council donated the land in 1974, but the foundation stone was not laid until 1984, in a ceremony attended by then-President of Italy, Sandro Pertini.
The mosque was officially inaugurated on June 21, 1995.
