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An ancient city in Morocco has been painted shades of blue for 500 years

Jacob ShamsianAug 16, 2016, 00:33 IST

Zzvet/iStock

Chefchaouen is a city in Morocco that's famous for its blue hue. While it was founded in 1471, it didn't get its distinctive color until 1492, when it received an influx of Jews escaping the Spanish inquisition, who brought a tradition of painting buildings blue.

Half a millennium later, the tradition persists in Chefchaouen's Old City, which is now a popular tourism and shopping destination.