Morocco's blue pearl, a place of entrancing beauty, is like being in Wonderland.

With progress in the 2022 World Cup Finals, the country of Morocco (Morocco) is attracting a lot of attention. This is a country located in the northwest of Africa, but it is close to Spain when only 13 km, through a strait. In addition, Morocco is also bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east.

Not only achievements in the sport of kings, the tourist destinations of this country are also extremely attractive in the eyes of tourists. In addition to the capital Rabat, the largest cities in the country such as Casablanca or indigenous fairs, old artisan villages, there is a place in Morocco that is very popular among tourists in the last 5 years, and like the land that came out of a comic.

This city is located on the Rif Mountain, in the northwest of the country and is distinguished by buildings with distinctive colors. It is the city of Chefchaouen.

Chefchaouen – The city with a blue color typical of Morocco

According to Wikipedia, the city of Chefchaouen was founded in 1471 as the city of Chaouen. Originally it was a fortress, with an area of almost 3,500 square kilometers. In 1975, the city was renamed to its current name. “Chefchaouen” means looking at the horns, referring to the two peaks that dominate the area.

In addition to the main name, the city is better known by the nickname “Blue Pearl” or “Blue City” because of the color of the buildings. As mentioned above, there is a theory that this place was once a fortress. Its purpose was to become a refuge for deported Jews. Also due to the Jewish culture, they painted the entire area of the fortress a colorful sky blue.

For this reason, since then, all the buildings in the city have been painted in such a blue color that this custom continues to this day. The old buildings and houses are still kept in the same state as when they were recently established.

According to some registered documents, the choice of blue, and not any other color, is not due to architectural or artistic factors, but to religion. Blue means to represent the sky, to transmit religious beliefs. People here also believe that blue brings hope and faith with a new vitality filled with happiness.

Images of the Green Pearl in Morocco began to appear and became famous on social media around 2015. Many visitors said that coming to Chefchaouen is no different from stepping foot in a fairyland due to the unreality. that brings

Arriving in Chefchaouen, visitors seem to be entering a fairyland, a fairy tale by covering themselves in a characteristic green color. (TH photo)

Due to the old architecture, the houses here are small and close together. At one glance, it will feel like this house is on top of the other. Following the small paths, from the walls, the window frames, the interior decoration or even the small potted plants, the characteristic green also appears, covering almost the entire city.

From buildings that are several hundred years old to new buildings, when there are signs of discoloration, people will immediately restore them. Or every 2 years people will also check and repaint the buildings.

The best time to go to “Blue Pearl”

Chefchaouen has a typically Mediterranean climate. Here, winter is cool and rainy, lasting from October to April of the next year. Summer is dry and hot, lasting from May to September. Visitors can choose according to their personal needs and preferences.

Not just visiting, taking pictures with green buildings, visitors can learn more about the indigenous culture of Muslims, enjoy traditional dishes like Naan bread, Tanzine stews or just simply sit and have a cup of coffee and watch cats walk on the street, on the rooftops.

Some other important notes for visitors when visiting the city of Chefchaouen is to keep in mind when you want to take photos of the indigenous people. When traveling, many people love this because people are the clearest evidence of a land’s culture and lifestyle.

In Chefchaouen in particular, as well as in Morocco in general, visitors should limit taking photos of the indigenous people. They will turn away or cover their faces if they see you taking a photo. If you want to take photos of them, especially street vendors, buy some of their stuff and ask for permission with a clear purpose in mind when taking the photo. If you know how to talk, they might even invite you home for dinner with traditional dishes.