Washed in shades of blue, this Moroccan mountain village is a meditation on the divine.
In Jewish tradition, blue is the color of the divine. The village was founded in 1471 by Jews and Muslims fleeing the Spanish Reconquest. Jews also fled here prior to World War II but most left upon the founding of Israel in 1948.
Despite being quite touristy, the town manages a laid-back feel. The medina is a compact maze of narrow lanes framed by crisp blue and white Andalusian architecture, and more manageable than those of Fez and Marrakesh.
You’ll find good shopping for unique, local handicrafts, especially wool products. In the center of the medina, the main city square Place Uta el Hammam is surrounded by restaurants and cafes, the Grand Mosque and a 15th-century kasbah, which contains the museum. The mountains offer a range of hikes, from short walks to multi-day treks, with trail-heads right outside the medina walls.
Can you name that site?
The answer is Chefchaouen, located in the Rif Mountains in northern Morocco, 3-4 hours from Fez (5-6 hours from Casablanca) by private transfer.
Chefchaouen can be added to any of our published Morocco tours or included in a custom program.
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