Painted in a palette of mesmerizing blue hues, Chefchaouen’s ancient medina (old quarter) offers a thousand photo opportunities, and the souks brim with undiscovered gems. Photographer and writer Lucy Laucht explains why Chefchaouen should be next on your travel list.
Na sjeverozapadu Maroka, u 15. stoljeću, je izgrađena mala utvrda kako bi se lokalno stanovništvo obranilo od napada portugalskih osvajača. Oko tvrđave je nikao grad čije plave zidine danas privlače pažnju znatiželjnika iz svih dijelova svijeta.
Chefchaouen ili Chaouen, kako ga rado zovu Marokanci, je danas popularna turistička destinacija zbog blizine Tangier i španjolske enklave Ceute.
Iako se u gradu danas nalazi više od 200 hotela koji ugošćuju brojne turiste iz Europe, grad je ostao prepoznatljiv po svojim kućama obojenim u plavo.
Grad je poznat i kao omiljena turistička destinacija, zbog velike ponude ručnih radova lokalnog stanovništva koje nije moguće naći u drugim marokanskim gradovima. Za sladokusce, tu je poznati kozji zir.
Chefchaouen’s medina is beautiful, peaceful, and easy to explore. The Jewish refugees from Europe who lived there during the 1930s first painted Chefchaouen blue (either to symbolize heaven or as a mosquito repellent, depending on who you ask), and now the town is known as “The Blue Pearl.” The town still keeps the tradition alive: Each year, the terracotta-tiled houses are washed with new coats of paint.
Najveća prirodna atrakcija je špilja Kef Toghobeit koja je jedna od najdubljih pećina u Africi.
Along the maze-like medina streets artisans and craftspeople sell a variety of wares, including beautiful hand-woven blankets and rugs, brass teapots, and colorful pottery. The best part? How easy it is. Browsing and shopping come with much less of the hassle that you typically find in the larger Moroccan cities.Brightly colored henna dyes line the streets. The dyes are used to decorate hands and feet during weddings and other celebrations.
Orange pops against Yves Klein Blue at a fruit vendor’s stall in one of Chefchaouen’s many cobblestone squares. You can pick up a fresh orange juice for just a couple of dirhams. Photo by Lucy Laucht
The air in Chefchaouen is heavy with the scent of spices, particularly Ras el Hanout, a heady blend containing cardamom, turmeric, clove, chili, cumin, and more. Photo by Lucy Laucht
