The municipality of Genoa has asked Alireza Naser Eslami, professor of Islamic and Byzantine architecture at the University of Genoa, to contribute to the project of the city’s mosque. According to the professor, the mosque will respect the urban context, and, for this reason, it might not have a minaret. Although in Arab architecture there are specific and recurring elements, says the professor, a fixed model doesn’t exist. The mosque, however, will exhibit crucial features of Islamic decorations. The project is the outcome of a continual and positive dialogue between the local authorities and the Islamic Community of Genoa, aiming at of balancing different interests in a climate of mutual recognition and respect.
