The blue city in Morocco holds the secrets of the Sufis & Moroccan city of Chefchaouen
The Moroccan city of Chefchaouen has a dazzling beauty of blue-coloured buildings and is a custodian of Jewish, Andalusian and Moroccan traditions.
In the arms of the mountains not far from the Atlantic Ocean on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, lies the Moroccan city of Chefchaouen, bathed in the magic of blue.
The city has a captivating beauty that tantalises the eyes, makes the heart stop, and overflows with emotions once you hear its name, says journalist Aida Umriya in an article in the Egyptian news agency Noon Post, quoted by InoMi.
Chefchaouen – the magical blue city
A magical city that captivates with its nature, dressed in clothes where the colour of the sky blends with the blue of the surrounding waterfalls… And all the blue colours in the world seem to be reflected in this small town nestled in the mountains.
Its narrow streets and avenues, curved staircases, walls and houses, doors and windows, and even rubbish bins and street lamps are all painted blue, harmonising with each other as if the sky had given its blue pearls to this world.
Chefchaouen is known as the ‘blue city’ and has become one of the most important tourist attractions not only in Morocco but also in the world after being ranked the sixth most beautiful city in the world.
Thanks to its beautiful inhabitants, Chefchaouen has an atmosphere of hospitality and tranquillity that makes you relax and feel very at peace with everything you see around you. The colour blue holds its own mystery.
Some say that when the Jews who fled Spain after the ethnic and religious cleansing of non-Christians settled in Chefchaouen, they started painting their houses blue. They then proceeded to paint their entire property blue, believing that blue was the colour closest to the sky and reminded them of God.
Blue is a symbol of peace and tolerance.
There are other premises. One of these is that the people painted the town blue as a symbol of peace and tolerance after welcoming the Jews, Andalusians, and Moroccans who had been forced to flee their homeland.
The town itself was built in 1471 for Muslim and Jewish Andalusian families fleeing Granada to escape Spanish oppression. The town is also known for its friendly inhabitants and the magical peace that is passed on to visitors.
Chefchaouen, Morocco.
Endlessly beautiful nature, dense forests, numerous gardens, springs and waterfalls cascading down from winding hills carpeted with flowers. …… Spring is particularly beautiful. The blue sky becomes even deeper, the gardens begin to bloom and only the sound of dripping water and birdsong keeps the silence.
City of the Sufi culture
Chefchaouen, with an area of 10.4 sq km and a population of about 50,000, has inherited a variety of features as well as Andalusian architecture. It also reflects a strong Sufi culture, with buildings such as Zawiya (a Sufi monastery with a distinctive architectural style) playing an important role in creating a spirit of tolerance and harmony.
Brides in the Moroccan town of Chefchaouen
The town’s inhabitants are proud of the birthplace of one of the world’s most famous Sufi poets, Abdul Karim Tibar (d. 1931). He not only wrote his own poetry but also studied the works of his predecessors Jalaluddin Rumi and Al-Nafari.
A city famous for its snail recipes
Chefchaouen is known not only for its spiritual cuisine but also for its snails.
This dish is made by boiling snails in a broth mixed with various herbs and olive oil to give it a unique flavour and is considered to be extremely tasty.
Snails are hidden during the day and only appear in the early morning, so snails are harvested on a set schedule and after they are caught, they are sold or taken home to be cooked.
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