Spanish Mosque Chefchaouen

Beyond the blue streets of Chefchaouen, the Spanish Mosque stands atop a hill as the town's most-visited sunrise and sunset point. The trail begins from Bab-el-Ansar, the eastern gate of the town’s medina, and passes the River Ras el’Ma giving way to a paved pathway lined with prickly pear and agave cacti plants on both sides. The track culminates in a bridge and around a dozen final steps to take you to the top from where the view can be enjoyed.

It was built in the mid-1920s during Spain’s colonial rule of Morocco. On a clear day, the sparkling white limestone peaks of the Rif Mountains stand out against the azure blue Mediterranean sky. To pacify brewing tensions with the natives, Spanish military general Fernando Capaz constructed the mosque overlooking the town. However, the local population never accepted it as a house of worship. The mosque has been abandoned for the most part of its existence. The Andalusian-style building was considered impure and got boycotted by the residents. Even now, people visit the mosque only to enjoy the picturesque view of the Chefchaouen medina from the hilltop during sunrises and sunsets.