Chefchaouen or Chaouen is a city in northwest Morocco. It is the principle town of the province of the same name it is noted for its buildings in shades of blue. Chefchaouen is situated in the Rif Mountains, just inland from Tangier and Tetouan.
The city was founded in 1471 as a small fortress, which still exists to this day, by Moulay Ali Ben Moussa Ben Rached El Alami to fight the Portuguese invasions of northern Morocco. Along with the Ghomara tribes of the region, many Moroccans and Jews settled here after the Spanish Reconquista in medieval times.
In 1920, the Spanish seized Chefchaouen to form part of Spanish Morocco. Spain returned the city after the independence of Morocco in 1956. Chefchaouen is a popular shopping destination as well. it offers many native handicrafts that are not available elsewhere in Morocco, such as wool garments and woven blankets. The goat cheese native to the area is also popular with tourists.
