Old Friday Mosque

The Hukuru Miskiy (Friday Mosque) in the capital Male` City is one of the oldest structures in the country, which dates back to 1658. This makes it a significant cultural and historical site to the Maldives and stands witness to the skills of Maldivian craftsmen of the time.

The mosque is built with interlocking coral blocks that are adorned with intricate coral carvings. The roof is supported by cut coral columns and its vaulted, decorated ceiling fashioned by master carpenters. Its interiors contain masterpieces of traditional Maldivian woodcarving and lacquer work. Next to the mosque is a 17th-century graveyard with intricately carved tombstones and tombs. 

Hukuru Miskiy was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008 for its unique architecture, its unparalleled historic tradition and the tongue-in-groove technique of its stone structure, which demonstrates a highly developed building technique for the period of its construction.