Chefchaouen, Morocco

The town of Chefchaouen with its 15th century Kasbah and Grande Mosquee, in the Rif mountains of North West Morocco. The Kasbah or fortress served as military camp, seat of power and rulers residence and was used by Ali Ibn Mousa Ibn Rashid in his jihad against the Portuguese. It is surrounded by a wall with 11 defensive towers and a 4-storey watchtower and contains a garden of orange, jasmine and palm trees. It now houses an art gallery and ethnography museum. The Grande Mosquee or El Masjid El Aadam was built adjoining the kasbah by the son of the town's founder, Ali Ben Rashid. It has longitudinal naves, a prayer hall with 4 gates and an octagonal minaret typical of the region. Chefchaouen was founded in 1471 by Moulay Ali Ben Moussa Ben Rashid El Alami to house the muslims expelled from Andalusia. It is famous for its blue painted houses, originated by the Jewish community, and is listed by UNESCO under the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Picture by Manuel Cohen

Picture No

13427376

Media ID

45104827

Size

5616px x 3744px (6.8MB)

Credit

Manuel Cohen / Mary Evans

Source

Photograph by Manuel Cohen