Morocco’s Blue City (inspiration from abroad)

Morocco is a land far away, but there is a lot to learn from this ancient country, just like anywhere else (and likewise lessons everywhere else can learn from England). Chefchaouen is known as ‘the blue city’, as all houses and shops are painted different shades of blue.

Donkeys remain a main form of transport in Morocco. So donate to The Donkey Sanctuary, which uses funds to help rescue, medically treat and educate people who use donkeys for work or  transport abroad.

Barbary macaque monkeys are native to Morocco, known for their female-led structure (while the dads carry babies). They live here in the Atlas mountains and also in Gibraltar. They need help from habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade. Read more on how to help prevent wildlife crime.

It’s believed the blue-washed walls were first introduced by Jewish refugees in the Rif Mountains, to symbolise heaven. The name of the city comes from a word meaning to ‘look at the horns’ (of the surrounding mountain peaks).

Until the 1920s, it was a holy city where non-Muslims were forbidden to enter, but today things have modernised. Many residents still speak Spanish, and it’s so close by. And a ‘Spanish mosque’ sits on a hill overlooking the town.

The area is known for its colourful straw hats and growing cannabis, but also for the community that feeds stray cats with fish from local rivers.