Urban palette (Morocco, Chefchaouen)

Located in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is nicknamed the Blue City of Morocco . The tradition of painting walls, steps, and doors in indigo blue dates back to the 15th century, when Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain settled there. Blue, a sacred color in Judaism, symbolizes the sky, spirituality, and protection against the evil eye. This hue has been preserved over the centuries, reinterpreted locally, and adopted by Muslim and Berber populations.

The town is also a typical example of Andalusian architecture : narrow streets, cubic houses, flat roofs, painted wooden doors. The local limestone and bright light accentuate the depth of the colors, which vary according to the time of day. Chefchaouen has managed to preserve a strong visual identity, both by climatic necessity (mosquito repellence, thermal regulation) and by heritage choice.

The colored steps visible on the ground are part of one-off contemporary interventions, often linked to community or tourist projects aimed at renewing interest in certain less frequented neighborhoods.