Blue city, Jodhpur
The medina, or old quarter, in Chefchaouen, Morocco
A medina quarter (Arabic: المدينة القديمة al-madīnah al-qadīmah "the old city") is a distinct city section found in a number of North African and Maltese cities. A medina is typically walled, with many narrow and maze-like streets. The word "medina" (Arabic: مدينة madīnah) itself simply means "city" or "town" in modern-day Arabic, it cognates with Aramaic-Hebrew word (also "medina") referring to a city or populated area.
Chefchaouen (Arabic: شفشاون Shafshāwan (pronounced IPA: ʃəfˈʃɑˑwən); Berber languages: ⴰⵛⵛⴰⵡⵏ Ashawen), also known as Chaouen was founded in 1471,
Chefchaouen (Arabic: شفشاون Shafshāwan (pronounced IPA: ʃəfˈʃɑˑwən); Berber languages: ⴰⵛⵛⴰⵡⵏ Ashawen), also known as Chaouen was founded in 1471,
This North African town's population swells with the arrival of summer tourists, so a scene like this—a cool blue street empty of people—is more likely during the off-season. Chefchaouen is built across the foothills of the Rif mountains, and is an easy drive from Tangier, Morocco's busy seaside hub. Many European visitors (specially from nearby Spain) arrive here to wander through the slinking streets of the medina among the blue-washed walls that distinguish the town. Theories differ on why the blue tint predominates, but we imagine just looking at the colour on a hot day lowers the temperature by a few degrees.
