The blue city of Morocco: Chefchaouen
Chef…chefcho…chefcha…chefchun…chefchon…okay, rest assured you are not the only ones who find difficulty pronouncing and remembering the name of that beautiful blue city in Morocco that you often see in photos.
CHEFCHAOUEN. That’s it.
This was perhaps the most dreamed of and idealized destination of my entire trip to Morocco.
In the far north of Morocco, in the Rif mountains, stands a small village that not only fills the mouth when you try to pronounce its name but also fills the eyes of the most disillusioned and least romantic man there is.
Anything but 50, here there are hundreds of shades of blue, light blue, and turquoise on the walls of houses, on windows, on vases, on trim, and on the tables and chairs outside the premises. Everywhere. Morocco Tours 8 days
And you too, somewhat like an avatar, will end up tinged lightly with blue as you lean against doors and walls to take a few photos.
We could almost be in Greece if strolling through the medina were not veiled women and men dressed in the typical pointy-capped djellaba. What to see in Chefchaouen if not every little door with its unique details, every nook and alley hiding surprises and manicured courtyards.
Why Morocco’s blue city is blue
If Chefchaouen does not make you think of Morocco but rather of Andalusia its why is there. Since the late 1400s, in fact, the country has hosted Muslim and Jewish refugees who arrived from Granada and inevitably influenced Morocco’s blue city with their culture. To them we owe the urban layout and general architecture of the country.
Think also that Chefchaouen remained “closed” to Christians until 1920, when the history of Morocco’s blue city became intertwined again with that of Spain and its occupation that lasted until 1956.
But why is Chefchoauen blue? The city’s typical blue color dates back only to the 1930s. The color blue in those years replaced the old Muslim-inspired color green. Viajes al desierto desde Marrakech
As imaginable there are several theories as to why Chefchaouen is blue and there seems to be no 100% sure answer. The two most accepted theories, however, seem to be that the choice was made by Jews inspired by the conventional color of paradise or, much less fascinating, that the color blue would keep away mosquitoes and flies.
How to get to Morocco’s blue city
The Blue City of Morocco is a bit far from everything. Perhaps this very place was chosen consciously, for protection and because it could represent a real achievement, a coveted and sweaty destination, not just another city within everyone’s reach. Although, make no mistake, it is now very touristy.
When planning a trip to Morocco, you will find yourself immersed with your face on the map realizing that getting to Chefchaouen is a bit of a long shot…but not impossible.
So let’s take a look at how to get to Chefchaouen by public transportation if you do not have the freedom of a rental car.
The largest and closest cities to reach the blue pearl are Tangier and Fez, and it was from the latter that I left (after a family experience thanks to Couchsurfing) on a CTM bus that took about 4 hours to reach the final destination.
There are more or less 200 kilometers separating Fez from the blue city of Morocco, so if you have a rental car at your disposal you will take about an hour less, also considering that in the bus there is an obligatory stop of about 15 minutes and a few stops in between. Tours en Marruecos
To reach Chefchaouen from Tangier by CTM bus, on the other hand, will take just under 3 hours. On the CTM website you will also find all the other routes to reach Morocco’s blue city from more distant places.
If you are not alone and thus have a way to share the nice expense, you can also get to Chefchaouen from cities like Fez, Tangier or Tetouan by taking a grand cab.
Be careful: buses are there roughly a couple of times a day but try to buy your ticket at least a day in advance, or at least as soon as you can because the available seats run out soon.
Getting from Marrakech to Chefchaouen without intermediate stops, on the other hand, is unthinkable.
How many days to spend in Morocco’s blue city
One of the most frequently asked questions is: how many days to spend in Chefchaouen? After you read how long it takes on average to get to Chefchaouen you should desist from the idea of doing it all in one day. At the very least, if you just can’t resist it, you can do it if you leave early by car. But that’s a bit crazy!
Getting to the Blue City by public transportation instead, visiting it and leaving in one day is almost impossible.
Chefchaouen is tiny, it’s true, but given the transportation schedules as well, spending a full day there and then at least one night is ideal.
Not to mention that in the evening, the blue pearl of Morocco empties out and the atmosphere there is a whole different one.
Fun facts about Chefchaouen
The Rif mountains, if you don’t know, are famous for the large production of kif and its most famous derivative which is hashish. Despite this, even in the blue pearl, as in the whole of Morocco the cultivation and consumption of hashish is banned but in Chefchaouen its production and use are now more than tolerated.
A simple example: arriving in the main square in the morning around 9 a.m. for breakfast at one of the cafes, I found myself without realizing it elbow to elbow with dozens of men of all ages quietly smoking their joints at the tables.
As soon as you arrive in the village, while you are looking around a bit just to get acquainted with the place and regain your sense of direction, some young man might approach you to offer you in broken Italian some good smoke to buy.
The more curious and thoughtless may even ask to be taken to see plantations not too far from the village. Often the owners of the various riads and hostels in the country will also be able to give you directions and help in throwing you into this adventure.
Remember, however, that the whole thing is illegal, so draw your own conclusions-I didn’t even think about it at all with all there is to see in Morocco’s Blue City.
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