The 12th-century Koutoubia is Marrakesh's most important mosque and its tallest building — the 77-metre minaret is visible from almost everywhere in the medina and serves as the city's compass point. Non-Muslims cannot enter, but the exterior and surrounding gardens are beautiful, especially at sunset when the sandstone glows pink. The minaret's proportions (height five times its width) set the template for the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat.