Chefchaouen is the “blue city” in the Rif Mountains of Morocco. It was founded in 1471, as a small fortress to fight the Portuguese invasions of northern Morocco. After the Spanish Reconquista in medieval times many Moors and Jews settled here. In 1920, the Spanish seized Chefchaouen to form part of Spanish Morocco - hence old medina is a blend of Moroccan and Andalucian influence with red-tiled roofs and bright-blue white washed buildings. Spain returned the city after the independence of Morocco in 1956.