The place I couldn’t wait to visit during my trip to Morocco was Chefchaouen, the blue city. I took a day trip from Fez to spend a few hours in this mystical town. It was raining heavily all day, but the sky cleared up only for an hour or so, just enough time to get lost in the little streets of the medina and snap a few pictures.
This magical city in the north of Morocco is entirely covered in all shades of blue paint. The walls are blue, the houses are blue, the sidewalks are blue, even the mosques, government buildings, trash cans, lampposts, and taxis are blue! It is said that this custom dates back to the 15th century, when Jewish refugees fleeing the Spanish Inquisition settled in Chefchaouen. They brought with them their tradition of painting things blue to mirror the sky and heaven, and remind them of God. Many also believe that the blue walls serve to repel mosquitoes. The entire city needs a fresh coat of blue paint every two years.
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