Morocco’s Blue City – Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen, Morocco

If you’ve spent even a small amount of time perusing “Instagram-worthy” (photogenic) travel destinations, you’ve seen photos of Chefchaouen, Morocco’s blue city. This small city in northern Morocco, in the mountains south of Tetouan, climbs a hillside and glows blue. Its narrow alleys and stair-stepped streets make wandering this gem even more fun.

Morocco’s blue city was originally built as a fortress that succeeded in keeping foreign enemies at bay for hundreds of years. It has the charm of other Moroccan medinas with its diverse array of doors and architectural details. The people are super friendly and atmosphere laid back.

Why Blue?

The walls throughout the historic medina of Chefchaouen are washed with various shades of blue, generally darker toward the bottom. Even the walkways are painted in many of the alleys. Why are they painted blue? Nobody really knows. Some say it is pest prevention to keep away the mosquitos. I like the sentiment, but if this were really the reason, wouldn’t cities the world over be painted these shades of blue?

Others say the color has religious significance. During the Spanish Reconquista, Jewish refugees fled the Iberian Peninsula, many finding their way to this region of Morocco. Some say it is blue because of them. Others suggest the blue reminds us of the sky and heaven and to keep our focus there.

Yet, some people, according to Wikipedia, say it is purely a tourism ploy engaged in the 1970s by the local government.

Whatever the reason, the mysterious blue walls draw thousands of tourists to this mountain town on a regular basis. It’s either the blue walls or being in the center of Morocco’s marijuana-growing region.

Kasbah

In the center of the historic part of town, the old kasbah stands with its slightly orange-hued earthen walls in lovely contrast to the blue walls the rest of the medina buildings. This kasbah is more like a walled courtyard fortress. The buildings and rooms line the exterior walls with entrances into the courtyard garden.

Climbing the tower provides magnificent views of the blue city and everywhere else around. Small exhibits can be found in other spaces as well.

Chefchaouen, Morocco, is located near Tetouan, Tangier, and the Spanish city of Ceuta making it a great day trip from any one of them. If you’re on a driving tour, it could be a pit stop between Fez and Tangier.