Mecca was the birth place of Muhammad. The most holy site is within the the holy city is the Great Mosque. Mecca was definitely the religious capital of Saudi Arabia, but the political capital is Riyadh. It's population is approximately 1.3 million. (geography) Mecca sits in a valley surrounded in low hills. Saudi Arabia was closed to tourist and Mecca itself is off limits for non-Muslims. Road blocks are stationed along roads leading to the city. (geography) In the Mecca area there are several additional sites where Muslims worship. Muslims face mecca during their daily prayer and one of the key tenets of Islam is a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a Muslims life. (geography)
