Muslim leaders in Florence have unveiled a blueprint for a mosque that aims to blend in with the city’s renaissance architecture, with minarets that resemble the cathedral’s bell tower designed by Giotto.
“Florence needs to have a mosque that rivals the city’s historic beauty and cultural wealth,” said the central Italian art city’s imam, Elzir Izzedine.
“The project is almost complete and will soon be presented to the mayor of Florence, Matteo Renzi to plan its construction, Izzedine added.
He is also head of the union of Islamic communities in Italy, UCOII.
The municipality needs to grant planning permission for the mosque. But Muslims hope its stunning design will convince Renzi.
Florence’s 35-year-old centre-left ‘first citizen’ has said he is not against a mosque in the city.
“If our Muslim friends present a project, we will evaluate it and have an open-minded discussion about it,” he said.
The black, green and white marble mosque boasts an open gallery, six arches with a large circular ornamental window or rosette, a prayer hall and two minarets
A Muslim leader in Florence will present plans to authorities in coming weeks to build a mosque in the style of the city’s classic architecture with minarets that resemble the cathedral bell tower designed by Giotto.
Architect David Napolitano said he designed the exterior of the mosque to make it look similar to many of the city’s landmark churches and buildings.
The mosque has received several positive reactions to the plans, including messages of support from local Christian communities, Napolitano said.
But local leaders of the anti-immigrant Northern League opposed the proposal, describing the construction of mosques as a threat to the stablity of Italian society.
Some Northern League politicians have suggested a referendum should be held on its construction, such as the one held last year in Switzerland.
The referendum, Swiss voted to ban the building of minarets, reflecting unease about Islam in Europe.
The Northern League has paraded pigs over mosque building sites in Italy, which is home to more than one million Muslims.