Chefchaouen or Chaouen (in Berber means peaks of mountains), is in fact, something of a blue Andalusian city in north Morocco. Located about 120 km from Tangier. It was founded in 1471 by the Sherif Ali Ben Rachid,and also governed by his daughter Sita el Horra(Free woman). The need at the time was to provide for the ever-increasing numbers of Arabs who were being forced out of Spain by Ferdinand and Isabela, the Spanish rulers of the time. A sizable part of Spain had in fact been under Arab rule since early in the 8th centaury. By the end of the 15th centaury however, the last Arab strongholds  in Spain were finally recovered. The inhabitants of Chaouen are therefore a mixture of Andalusia Arabs returned form Spain, and Berbers of the Rif Mountain, the original population. The city has also been inhabited with an important Jewish community ,who have also lived in Chefchaouen since the founding of the city.

Chaouen was in fact occupied by Spain in 1920, where they reigned until 1956. Consequently most people in Chefchaouen still speak Spanish with fluency.

Chaouen is a walled city, with seven formidable entry gates (Bab El Ain,Bab El Hamar,Bab el Mahrouk, ab Essouk, Bab El Mokadem, Bab El Onsar,and Bab Essabanin). The estimated population today is of around 50,000.  The town boasts a rather fine museum ad Art Gallery, and twice a week there is a big local market (Monday and Thursday) that is not to be missed. The town also has a beautiful open air theatre, that serves as a venue for a wide range of entertainments.

Another interesting characteristic of the area is that of its agriculture - executed in a fully sustainable way, using the traditional mix of grazing animals for fertilization, in rotation with food and fruit crops.