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The Mosque of Rome (Italian: Moschea di Roma), situated in Parioli, is the largest mosque outside the Islamic world, Russia and India. It has an area of 30,000 m2 (320,000 sq ft) and can accommodate more than 12,000 people. The building is located in the Acqua Acetosa area, at the foot of the Monti Parioli, north of the city. Being the Western world's biggest mosque, it is the seat of the Italian Islamic Cultural Centre (Italian: Centro Culturale Islamico d'Italia). In addition to being a meeting place for religious activities, it provides cultural and social services variously connecting Muslims together. It also holds teachings, wedding ceremonies, funeral services, exegesis, exhibitions, conventions, and other essential events.

Designed by the Italian architect Paolo Portoghesi and inaugurated on June 21, 1995, the mosque in Rome is the largest Islamic institution of worship in Europe. The idea of building it began in 1966. In Italy the faithful Muslims were still a small minority and it was not their religious needs that stimulated the thought of a mosque. It was an idea of King Feisal of Saudi Arabia, who was on a visit to Rome that year: during his stay in the Italian capital he asked to be accompanied to pray, but for his spiritual needs Rome did not have an answer. Since then the Saudi government has engaged with Italy and allocated funds for the construction of a mosque. In 1969 the Islamic Cultural Center of Italy was born, six years after Pope Paul VI expressed his consent to the project and thus began the history of the mosque in Rome. It was a difficult design that would have to adapt the nascent building to the Italian architectural tradition and above all that it would never have had to surpass the places of worship of Christian Rome for sumptuousness. The height of the minaret was in fact a problem: for nothing in the world could have exceeded the height of the dome of St. Peter. The minaret of the mosque in Rome is the only one in the world to have no speakers, from that tower no voice invites the faithful to prayer. No recall, but people know when to go. Even those who are not Muslims,.

During the Islamic festivals such as Ramadan or the Pilgrimage, the mosque welcomes many, many more Muslims and appointments vary: during the Ramadan period, for example, daily prayers become six, instead of five. The faithful go to pray not only on Fridays, but also on other days and pray until late at night, even until 11pm. because the mosque in Rome is open to all those who come here. There are those who attend the Friday market to buy the culinary specialties for sale, there are those who sign up for the Arabic language and culture courses organized by the Islamic Center. And there is simply who goes to the mosque for the curiosity to know a place and a religion that we talk about a lot and of which we are also a bit scared by now. Not so for three Italian ladies who arrive while our visit comes to an end: "Excuse me - ask Samir with scarves in hand - we can visit the mosque?". Samir smiles, and responds kindly: "Of course, sir." Restart the tour, but does not seem tired. He is only pleased to explain how normal life takes place inside a mosque

The space can accommodate two thousand and even three thousand people, if you calculate the covered atrium outside the prayer hall. Not only are the Muslims who find themselves in prayer, but also Pakistanis, Bengalis, Africans. And Italians. There are many Italians converted to Islam who pray in the mosque and sometimes many of them know Arabic and the Koran better than the Arabs themselves. Occasionally even tourists visiting Rome arrive at Monte Antenne for their moment of prayer, and many of them are Europeans converted to Islam. Outside every Friday there is also a colorful market. At around 1.30pm the imam climbs into the pulpit and pronounces his weekly speech. The time of the sermon varies from half an hour to forty-five minutes, after which the imam descends from the minbar, he places himself before the faithful and guides the movements of the prayer. Recites some verses from the Koran, and thus ends the prayer ritual on Muslim Friday. After the spiritual moment the Muslims stop outside the market: the stalls offer the opportunity to taste the flavors of their lands and to buy the useful ingredients for their traditional cuisine. In the early afternoon the merchants start to leave and the Friday party starts to end.

Rome, capital of Catholic religion and relationships with Islam. The impact of a such important centre : meetings , studies, prayers, social activities.
A study about connection between religion and social life