Exploring Forgotten Sanctuaries: A Photographic Journey Through the Roadside Mosques of Saudi Arabia.
Photography by Lorenzo Arrigoni & WORDS BY Nour Gary
In a world increasingly marked by urbanization and the relentless pace of modern life, the Italian photographer Lorenzo Arrigoni has embarked on a compelling exploration of mosques across Saudi Arabia. Stepping out of the major cities, these sites remain frozen in time, even in a rapidly changing landscape.
Lorenzo’s fascination began when he moved to Riyadh and started exploring the surrounding desert. Amid vast stretches of sand, mosques emerged as solitary markers of human presence. These buildings, whether grand or modest, became symbols of devotion along the routes he traveled. Every discovery to him felt like a small treasure, a reward for the act of wandering.
As he traveled the country with his Rolleiflex camera, he began documenting these spaces, revealing how the need for prayer manifests in different forms. Some mosques are located next to gas stations, while others consist of simple sheets of metal creating a sacred area. However, each minaret reflected a unique interpretation of articulation, marking a moment of stillness in a world that is often in motion.
Many roadside mosques, known as musallahs, are designed for practicality. They often feature a basic prayer hall with a single dome or flat roof, a mihrab (prayer niche) oriented towards Mecca, and occasionally a modest minaret or rooftop tower. From small rural prayer stops to larger, now-derelict edifices, each mosque reflects the materials and architectural tastes native to its location, offering a glimpse into the region's rich history.
In a time when many seek meaning in the frenetic pace of urban life, these images are not merely relics of the past but poignant reminders of the enduring human need for connection, reflection, and prayer.
About the Contributors
Lorenzo Arrigoni is a photographer and filmmaker based in Saudi Arabia. Working across the country, he collaborates with artists and designers to document their projects, creative processes, and installations, revealing the narratives behind how these works come to life. Alongside this practice, his personal work focuses on the everyday landscapes of Saudi Arabia, from the street life of cities such as Jeddah to the vast territories that stretch between them. He is particularly drawn to places that feel suspended outside of time, spaces that quietly preserve ways of life and cultural gestures that have endured for centuries despite the rapid transformations shaping the region.
Nour Gary is a curator and architect based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, dedicated to fostering community engagement and enhancing cultural education. Her curatorial practice is fundamentally centered on the exploration of human relationships across time and the intricate dynamics of physical space. With a profound enthusiasm for modern and contemporary art, she places particular emphasis on nurturing and promoting artists and artworks from the SWANA region while cultivating meaningful collaborations that facilitate growth and visibility in the art world.
