Mosque of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab

About

When it was built in 1997, the Mosque of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab was a magnificent monument to a thriving Muslim community. The border town of Maicao flourished from trade with Venezuela, and all but collapsed along with its neighbor collapsed. The mosque, designed by the Iranian architect Ali Namazi is the third largest in South America, built to accommodate nearly 1000 worshippers. While before, the lines were so long that worshippers might not make it inside for prayer on public holidays, today, this could probably fit the entire community. The architecture blends tradition with modernity, using Italian marble for its facade and modernist minaret. The colorful stained glass windows bath the prayer hall in blue light, while the room is lined with religious texts in Spanish and Arabic. The attendants are happy to give a guided tour, but the mosque doesn’t have regular visiting hours. It’s best to try to arrive around prayer time to make sure someone will be there to let you in.