Walk through the old streets of Chefchaouen in northern Morocco and one colour seems to be everywhere.
Blue.
Walls, doors, staircases and narrow alleyways are painted in different shades of the colour, giving Chefchaouen its famous appearance.
The mountain town has become one of Morocco’s most recognisable destinations because of its blue-washed medina.
Where is Morocco’s blue town?
Chefchaouen sits in the Rif Mountains of northern Morocco.
Built along a mountainside, the town is known for its winding streets, traditional buildings and historic medina.
But it is the extensive use of blue that immediately sets it apart.
Different shades appear across walls, steps, doors and passageways throughout the old town. Morocco’s National Tourist Office describes Chefchaouen as appearing almost entirely blue.
Why is Chefchaouen painted blue?
This is where the story becomes more mysterious.
There is no single explanation that historians universally accept for why Chefchaouen became so blue.
One widely repeated theory connects the tradition to Jewish communities that lived in the city.
Other explanations link the colour to local decorative traditions, while some say blue creates a feeling of freshness in the narrow streets.
The city’s blue appearance also developed gradually rather than appearing all at once. Historical accounts and photographs indicate that the intense blue landscape familiar today became increasingly prominent during the 20th century.
More than just blue streets
Chefchaouen’s history goes far beyond its famous colour.
The town was founded in the 15th century and later received communities arriving from Al-Andalus.
Its historic centre includes a kasbah, traditional markets and narrow streets shaped by centuries of local and Andalusian influence.
The surrounding Rif Mountains add another distinctive feature to the town’s landscape.
Today, however, it is those unmistakable blue streets that have made Chefchaouen instantly recognisable around the world.
And despite all the theories, exactly how the tradition began remains part of the mystery.