Uploaded October 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"Now one of the prettiest towns in Morocco, Chefchaouen was founded in 1471 as a point of defense against the invading Portuguese. Just two decades later, the city expanded with the arrival of Muslim and Jewish refugees fleeing forced conversion to Christianity in Granada, Spain. These new residents built Chefchaouen’s signature whitewashed houses and courtyards with citrus trees, giving the city its European flair, which still exists today. One story that explains why it was painted blue says that the immigrant Sephardic Jewish community brought with them a tradition of painting buildings blue because it reminded them of the sky and the presence of God. A different version of the story attributes the blue to the Jewish community, but this time to Jews who arrived in Morocco fleeing Hitler’s incursion through Europe. A third—radically different—version says that Chefchaouen became the blue city in Morocco in an effort to repel mosquitoes and prevent malaria."
It was great exercise and fabulous fun climbing all over this beautiful place! Love the Moroccan food and all the warm Moroccan people!
#bluecity #morocco #salamaleykum #gadventures
"Now one of the prettiest towns in Morocco, Chefchaouen was founded in 1471 as a point of defense against the invading Portuguese. Just two decades later, the city expanded with the arrival of Muslim and Jewish refugees fleeing forced conversion to Christianity in Granada, Spain. These new residents built Chefchaouen’s signature whitewashed houses and courtyards with citrus trees, giving the city its European flair, which still exists today. One story that explains why it was painted blue says that the immigrant Sephardic Jewish community brought with them a tradition of painting buildings blue because it reminded them of the sky and the presence of God. A different version of the story attributes the blue to the Jewish community, but this time to Jews who arrived in Morocco fleeing Hitler’s incursion through Europe. A third—radically different—version says that Chefchaouen became the blue city in Morocco in an effort to repel mosquitoes and prevent malaria."
It was great exercise and fabulous fun climbing all over this beautiful place! Love the Moroccan food and all the warm Moroccan people!
#bluecity #morocco #salamaleykum #gadventures
