The obvious question once you first get to Chefchaouen is: “Why is it blue?” several reasons are offered and most are myths. a number of the myths include: the colour repels mosquitos; it reminded the first (non-existent) ex-sailor residents of their seafairing past; it’s a reminder to recollect heaven.
the important reason the complete town is painted blue is de facto simple. once Jews were expelled from Spain at the tip of the fifteenth century, many came to Chefchaouen. They painted the Mellah, the human space in light-weight blue. per Islamist Habte – to blame for my radio-controlled tour of Chefchaouen and also the owner of the wonderful Gite Talassemtane, a neighborhood tour and trekking company – they even else slightly of blue dye to their white sheets. Over centuries the blue ornamentation spread, remodeling the medina from its original white walls and red tiles roofs. Recently, folks became bolder with the reminder blue used, adding tones of turquoise, violet and purple.
once I asked Islamist what she number one people to understand regarding Chefchaouen, she said, “It’s quite blue. we've got an expensive culture and history and that we are encircled by stunning nature and national parks.” She ought to recognize, she grew up in Chefchaouen’s medina.
On my radio-controlled tour of Chefchaouen with Fatima, I learned plenty regarding this unimaginable town that else cultural and historical depth. History buffs may wish to know that Chefchaouen was based in 1471 by Moulay Ali ibn Rashid al-Alami, as an area from that to fight the Portuguese, who had been incursive Northern Morocco. The casbah within the main sq. was al-Alami’s defensive structure home and is well worth the 10Dh admission charge (about a dollar) if you have got half-hour to spare. you'll visit the dungeon, climb the tower to require in {an exceedingly|in a very} nice read and stroll the gorgeous grounds.
In one corner of the kasbah’s grounds could be a partly excavated tunnel, the origin of that is unknown – some say it’s a part of a series of escape tunnels designed by Abd al-Krim el-Khattabi, who junction rectifier an early 20th-century revolt against Spanish using whereas others say it had been a prison, part of the first Kasbah. Islamist believes it was built by the Romans, long before the kasbah. till funding is found to try and do the research, nobody will say for sure.
the most sq., wherever the casbah associate degreed nice house of God are located, is named Ouda el-Hammam (place of the hammam), named for the primary hammam in Chefchaouen, that has been running for centuries. With the kasbah on your left, take a right when you walk past the cafes and you’ll notice the wood-fired hammam on your right.
At the other finish of the main square with the cafes on your left, take a left and appearance for edifice Al-Kassaba. Across the road from that, you’ll see an arch with a store designed into it. This is Chefchaouen’s previous fondouk, or caravanserai. As is that the case with the structures, it’s currently the domain of craftsmen operating in its old lodging rooms. At the so much finish could be a smith who are going to be happy to point out you ways he's employed victimization ancient methods.
currently spin and notice your way behind the casbah and house of God to a smaller sq. known as Sidi mount Lahsen. a number of decades ago, girls spun and sold wool here. Opposite the rear of the mosque is a public oven, designed throughout the first start of Chefchaouen and conjointly still running. At the tip of the sq. is associate degree arch that is that the entrance to the mellah, the previous human section. the world simply on the far side the arch is named Al Khrazzin, the animal skin Place. this can be wherever several craftsmen worked. although it’s principally for tourists now, there still a number of highly-skilled leather staff still there.
No visit to Chefchaouen is complete while not payment a touch time on its attractive river. a brief walk uphill from the bridge, see the supply of the river, a body of water tumbling down the mountain called Ras el Maa. below the bridge and continued downstream, girls do laundry. In fact, this whole section along the watercourse is named Sed Banin, the Laundry Place. per Fatima, utilities tend to be shared among multiple residents in an exceedingly home and instead of argue over costs, some prefer to use free water from the river. right along the so much facet of the river are canals that carry water that accustomed power mills. you'll even see an previous mill stone designed into the wall part-way down. Most of the mill homes are currently cafes and limit their grinding to coffee. just one mill remains intact, however it’s closed and unused.
a handful of ultimate notes: First, make certain to seem for the plaques in Spanish and English that designate the historical significance of the many sites in Chefchaouen. Second, here even quite within the remainder of Morocco, folks hate having their image taken. Follow the traditional courtesy and raise first, but don’t be shocked if the solution is sort of continuously “no.” Still… bear in mind to pack your camera as a result of The Blue town is impossibly photogenic… which isn't any myth. That’s a fact!
