Great Mosque & Malwiya Minaret الملوية
The 52-metre spiral minaret of the 9th-century Great Mosque of Samarra.
The spiral minaret, about 52 metres high, was built for the Great Mosque of Samarra in the reign of caliph al-Mutawakkil. A ramp winds around it to the top.
The Great Mosque of Samarra was built between 848 and 851 by the Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil and was for a time the largest mosque in the world. Its outer walls, with their semicircular towers, still enclose a vast rectangle of open ground.
The Malwiya, which means “spiral”, stands just outside the mosque. A ramp winds around it five times to a small platform at the top, about 52 metres above the ground, with views across the archaeological city and the Tigris. The minaret is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Samarra, listed in 2007.
Visit with our tour: Samarra Heritage Tour →
Travel tips
- The ramp has no railing. Climb slowly and wear shoes with good grip.
- Go early in the morning or late afternoon when it is cooler.
Questions & answers
Where is Great Mosque & Malwiya Minaret?
Great Mosque & Malwiya Minaret is in Samarra, Salah al-Din Governorate, Iraq. The map on this page shows its location.
How can I visit Great Mosque & Malwiya Minaret?
Great Mosque & Malwiya Minaret is included in our Samarra Heritage Tour tour (1 day). You can book it on WhatsApp, and we arrange the guide, transport and any permissions.