It is located in the northwest of Morocco, far away from the bustle of metropolitan cities. The whole city is covered in blue, and why everything is painted blue has always been the most mysterious part of this town.

Few people have stepped into this city

This town is called Chefchaouen (Chaouen), located in the wide valley of the Rif Mountains in northwest Morocco. Islamic holy city. Most of the residents here are descendants of Spanish Moors who fled here in the late 15th century. In the 16th century, Chefchaouen became an independent kingdom and had its own period of glory. However, in less than a hundred years, it was overrun by Morocco. Defeated and became part of northern Morocco. It was not open to any foreigners before it was occupied by Spain in 1920. At that time, Chefchaouen had no color.

Why is it blue

From the moment you walk into this city, the stairs, steps, walls, door panels, window sills, flower stands, mailboxes...everywhere you can see is covered with blue. It is painted blue, including sky blue, navy blue, ultramarine blue, lake blue, Prussian blue... Why is it as small as a grain of gravel or as large as a wall all blue?

In color psychology, blue is considered to be a symbol of the sea, a broad color, and has the meaning of courage, calmness, reason, and never giving up. Therefore, one explanation is that the source of blue is The small town has been in awe of the sea. In Islam, blue is a color of purity, and may also be a symbol of loyalty for a country where Islam is the state religion. Therefore, some people say that blue comes from the religious beliefs of this place.

Blue is also considered a symbol of peace. Some people say that blue was chosen because the Jewish refugees who immigrated here in 1930 yearned for the sky, heaven and even peace. Therefore, this blue color is derived from Brought by the Jews. Some people say that they chose blue because it can dissipate heat in the summer. The most common comment is: to prevent mosquitoes! ! ! Let the mosquitoes mistakenly think that there is water everywhere and they will not fly over. (What the hell, are there as many mosquitoes as a whole mountain? They are buzzing... I feel like I want to see them.)

The open-air market in the old town

The weekly market in the old town The market event best reflects the real life situation of ordinary people in Morocco. Fashionable leather bags, traditional Moroccan clothing, daily necessities, traditional handicrafts, and cannabis are sold together with vegetables.

At the market, you can also see the true appearance of the Berbers, the indigenous people of Morocco who have lived in the Rif Mountains for generations, wearing traditional big hats, red and white striped skirts, and blankets. Shawl, the flavor of Chavan is in it.

The overall feeling of the old city is very relaxed and peaceful. The bright blue tones cover all the walls and streets, and the roofs made of red wavy tiles are a bit Anda. The embellishment of Lucian style makes the town extremely unique.

Public Bathhouse

Another feature of Chefchaouen is the Hamam (Public Bathhouse) located on the mountainside. It is said that only the water here is truly extracted. Melting snow from the top of the Rif Mountains. Hamam is a bathing method originated from the Eastern Roman Empire in the Middle Ages. It is somewhat similar to a sauna, but it pays more attention to the water bathing process.

The original use of Hamam was related to religion. According to Muslim teachings, it is necessary to "purify" before praying, that is, to clean the body thoroughly. Therefore, the most authentic Hamams are built together with mosques.

Geometric alleys

In Chefchaouen, there are many alleys and they are very rugged, making it a good place for hiking. If you want to truly appreciate the blue style of the small town, you need to go up the steps step by step, choose a beautiful door or a blue street, and stop there to get a great photo. When walking through the alleys, the bird's eye view is like walking on a staggered geometric pattern, going around and around, and it is almost difficult to finish the walk. It seems like you are exploring, but you will not get lost.

You will often encounter a cat leisurely in the corner~

Therefore, it is called the elf of this city~

“Chefchaouen This is what Morocco should be like, and it has been like this for 100 years." This is what the locals said. Indeed, when the whole of Morocco is driven faster and faster by the times, Chefchaouen, hidden in the Rif Mountains, may retain all people's illusions about Morocco.