Ask five people in Chefchaouen why the town is blue and you'll likely get five different answers. It's one of the more debated pieces of local lore, and part of what makes wandering the medina so much fun.
The most common explanation traces the color to Jewish refugees who settled in the town in the 1930s, bringing a tradition of blue-painted buildings tied to religious symbolism — blue as a reminder of the sky and, by extension, of God. Other locals point to more practical reasons: the color is said to repel mosquitos, and it keeps buildings noticeably cooler in the summer heat.
Whatever the origin, the tradition has stuck and evolved into something the whole town maintains together, repainting walls and doorways every year. It's also become the town's biggest draw, so mornings — before the day-trip crowds arrive from Fes and Tangier — are the best time to wander and photograph the alleys in peace.
