A city in northwest Morocco, it is known for its buildings painted with different shades of blue that have led to the nickname “Blue City.” Situated in the Rif mountains, between Tétouan and Ouazzane, it was founded by Moulay Ali Ben Rachid al Zarkaze.as a large stronghold to resist the Portuguese occupation of the north. It was later home to Andalusi Muslims and Sephardi Jews who arrived after the Reconquista, influencing its culture and architecture. Chefchaouen’s alleyways, doorways and squares still display the strong influence of Andalusia even to this day in both its urban layout and its music.
It was only in the last few decades that travelers and photographers helped turn Chefchaouen into a social-media sensation, transforming what had been a more modest, sleepy mountain town into one of Morocco’s busiest destinations — with none of the original intentions to be a hub for tourism.