The Idyllic Blue-Rinsed Town Of Chefchaouan, Morocco

image credit: John Rambow

Northwest of Morocco is a charming little town popular among tourists for its distinctive powdery blue painted streets. Chefchaouan is located right in the heart of the Rif Mountains, beneath the shadows of two peaks called Ech-Chaoua.

In the 1930's Chefchaouan was populated by Jewish refugees. As part of their tradition, the Jews painted their houses blue as a reminder of the blue sky and God above in heaven. Though the Jews no longer dominate the town's population, the locals still follow the tradition and renew the paint job on their houses and streets.