The Suraya Mosque is one of the more unexpected sights in northern Mexico: a Shia Muslim mosque built by Torreón's Lebanese-origin community, whose families arrived in Mexico in the early twentieth century and established themselves as merchants and entrepreneurs across the country. The building is architecturally striking — a proper mosque with a dome and minaret, not a converted warehouse — and stands in clear contrast to the Catholic churches that dominate most Mexican cities.
Lebanon has had a significant diaspora in Mexico, and Torreón has one of its concentrations. The mosque reflects a community that has been here for over a century and has maintained its religious identity across generations. Visitors are generally welcome outside prayer times; dress modestly and ask before entering if the doors are open. Even from the outside it is worth stopping to look at.