The basic design of the mosque is a four walled structure with a tower or minaret from which the priest can summon the faithful to prayer. The interior will be bare, clear of furniture and have, on one wall, the mihrab indicating the direction of Mecca in which the faithful must pray. Generally, there is little adornment on the outside with the most rich designs being seen within, though there are many exceptions to this.
Good examples of more richly decorated mosques are the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, Sultan Hassan mosque in Cairo and the mosque at Sarmakand.
Other beautiful, but largely secular Arabic buildings include palaces such as the Alhambra in Granada, mausoleums such as the Taj Mahal, military buildings such as the citadel at Aleppo and official buildings such as the madrassas (schools) of Fez.
