Travel to Samarra, Iraq on a day trip from Baghdad in 2022 and visit Malwiya Tower, the rounded minaret of the Great Mosque of Samarra. For a time, the Grand Mosque of Samara was the biggest mosque in the world. One of the great examples of Islamic architecture, the minaret looks like an upside-down wedding cake and is one of the best places to see and things to do in Iraq. Muslim pilgrims from all over the world walk around and up to the top of Malwiya Minaret.
Samarra is also famous for the shrine to Imam Al-Askari and Ali al-Hadi, who are buried in one of the most important Shia shrines in the world. We were allowed to use our cameras inside the holy Shiite Al-Askari Shrine (مَرْقَد ٱلْإِمَامَيْن عَلِيّ ٱلْهَادِي وَٱلْحَسَن ٱلْعَسْكَرِيّ) and I couldn't believe my eyes! This mosque was bombed in 2006 by Al-Qaida and the outside still hasn't completely been repaired but the place is still incredible and the inside is outrageously spectacular.
Nearby in Samarra we also visited several fortresses including the Khalifa Palace, the seat of government in 9th century Samarra, and Qasr al-Alhiq, a historical palace dating back to the Abbasid era.
And finally, I taste delicious Iraqi Food, this time their version of Iraqi Dolmas, which is a MASSIVE plate of veggies stuffed with rice and tasty hunks of meat.
8 сен 2024
