Culture of Medina. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Medina's main sights are world-famous Muslim shrines attracting pilgrims from all over the world. The main symbol of the holy city is Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, a mosque famous in legends. According to one of them, the first Islamic temple was founded on this site during the time of the prophet. The first mention of the world's oldest mosque dates back to 622. It is striking with its impressive scale and decoration. A spacious courtyard formed in the mosque can accommodate several thousand believers during major religious holidays.

All other Muslim temples in the world were built in the likeness of the main mosque, which has a lot of interesting architectural features. In total, the construction has 10 minarets, the maximum height of which is 104 meters. Many people recognize the world's main Muslim temple by its original green dome. This dome has a very interesting meaning: according to historical data, the prophet's tomb is located under it. Besides the Prophet Muhammad, the mosque became a burial place for some Muslim caliphs, in honor of which important celebrations are held every year.

For Medina residents, the mosque has long ceased to be just a sacred monument. At certain times, a school was located within its walls, important city meetings and traditional holidays were held in the courtyard of the mosque. Every ruler of the city sought to bring something new to the building's appearance, and that's why today's architectural ensemble harmoniously combines elements of different periods. The last large-scale reconstruction of the mosque took place in 1953, and it has remained unchanged since then. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

An equally significant religious monument is Al-Quba Mosque. If you believe a legend, the prophet Muhammad himself took part in the construction of this mosque. Despite the fact that the mosque was repeatedly rebuilt and reconstructed, it is also considered one of the oldest in the world. In recent years, the religious monument has also turned into a multi-purpose cultural and community center. Its prayer hall is now located on the first floor of the building. The ground floor is occupied by trade pavilions and several offices of local companies. The mosque building is of great architectural value too. Valuable types of marble and ornamental stone were used for its decoration.

It is also worth noting the wonderful Masjid al-Qiblatain. The main feature of this mosque is the presence of two mihrabs. One of them is turned to Jerusalem, and the other to Mecca. According to historical data, the opening of this mosque took place in the year 623. Many unique decorations and traditional elements have been preserved in the hall of the classical Islamic structure.

Medina boasts several interesting museums, the most famous of which is the Koran Museum. This cultural center was opened relatively recently, it is the largest museum in the world dedicated to the history and traditions of the Islamic religion. The museum's thirteen halls contain the rarest exhibits, including the most valuable collections of ancient books and manuscripts. The museum presents thematic exhibits that are typically used in religious services. The age of some items is more than a thousand years. The museum regularly hosts scientific conferences, and its specialists are also engaged in print media publishing.

The Madina Media Museum invites tourists to get acquainted with the history and religious traditions of the city. The main part of its exposition is made up of various religious artifacts. Apart from it, a valuable collection of historical exhibits is stored in the museum. Antique garments and musical instruments, archaeological exhibits and ethnographic collections - the studying of the museum's collection may take days.

The city's largest collection of pre-Islamic exhibits is gathered in the Al-Madina Museum. It tells visitors about the life of the indigenous population during the reign of the great caliphs. All the exhibits in the museum are more than one and a half thousand years old. Its walls keep collections of ancient weapons, national clothes, and craft masterpieces. Here you can also see jewelry that once belonged to noble rulers. The museum regularly conducts educational tours for children. Its collection is considered one of the most diverse and fascinating of those presented in the city.