Chefchaouen, Morocco - More Than Just the Most Instagrammable City in the World

Last September I visited Morocco for the first time. It was my 40th birthday, and I wanted to go somewhere different. I had never been to Africa, and Morocco seemed like a good option for the first-timer. I planned a two-week trip with two of my sisters and a good friend. The four of us rented a car in Tangier and traveled throughout the country visiting as many places as we could.

We had all heard of Chefchaouen, or Chaouen as it's also called, from Instagram. Images of "The Blue Pearl" filled our Instagram feeds, and we knew we had to make a stop there. It did not disappoint. The city was filled with myriad shades of blue as well as other colors, both bright and subtle. Add the aromas and friendliness of the people, and we didn't want to leave.

Here are a few pictures from the trip. There were gorgeous blue doors wherever you turned.

Here is a picture with a new friend I made. (She's quite sleepy).

I've heard differing stories on why the homes are painted blue, and to be honest, I'm not exactly sure which one is true... (perhaps they all are). One theory is that the color blue keeps mosquitoes away. Another is that the color is calming and represents peace. The theory that seems to persist most, however, is that Sephardic Jews introduced the blue when they escaped to Morocco from Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. It is said that the blue colors were added to the buildings to mirror the sky, symbolize heaven, and serve as a reminder to lead a spiritual life.

There were once over 250,000 Jews in Morocco, making it the largest Jewish community in the Muslim world. Today, only a few thousand remain. After Israel's independence in 1948, waves of Jews left for to Israel, France and Canada for a variety of reasons. Some emigrated for religious reasons, some faced persecution, and others left for better economic prospects. With every Arab-Israeli war, tensions between Arabs and Jews would rise, sparking more Jewish emigration. By the time of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the majority of Morocco's Jewish population had emigrated. Although, remnants of Jewish culture can still be seen in Chaouen and throughout other parts of Morocco.

Chaouen was closed to outsiders until the 1920s; however, once it opened up and the word spread about its beauty, history, and culture, it became a popular tourist destination for travelers and Instagrammers alike. I hope to go back someday and hope you add it to your travel list if you have not already.

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