Chicago Sunday, August 24th, 2025
The two most important mosques in the Islamic world are in Mecca and Medina. If you ever see pictures of them, you might notice something surprising: a lot of their beautiful, shiny white stone actually comes from Italy! Specifically, it’s a famous type called Carrara marble, which is dug out of mountains in a place called Tuscany.
The leaders of Saudi Arabia chose this special Italian marble for a few smart reasons. It’s incredibly strong and can handle millions of people walking on it every year without wearing out. It also stays cool and reflects the hot desert sun, which helps keep the huge outdoor areas comfortable for the pilgrims who visit to pray.
Using so much marble from so far away was a huge and expensive project. While some people talked about the cost, most agree that using the best material possible was important for these holy sites. The brilliant white stone makes the mosques look magnificent and peaceful, creating a beautiful space for people from all over the world.
