Quartier Andalous and Rue Targui

Quartier Andalous is the oldest residential quarter of the Chefchaouen medina, in the Rif mountains of northern Morocco, and Rue Targui is the lane that links the main square, Plaza Uta el-Hammam, to the quieter southern part of the old town. This is the area that most people picture when they think of Chefchaouen: narrow, steep alleys washed in shades of blue, whitewashed house fronts, carved wooden doors, potted plants on steps, and small arched passages. The Andalusian name recalls the Muslim and Jewish families who arrived from Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries and left their mark on the architecture and layout. Visitors spend one to two hours here simply walking, with no tickets or fixed sights. The experience is about detail: doors with iron studs, tiled fountains, balconies, and small workshops and houses where residents go about daily life. Lanes are cobbled and steep, and become slippery after rain, so good shoes are essential. The best photo angles include the steps with blue walls and plant pots, doorways framed by arches, and the views downhill toward the roofs and mountains. Early morning is by far the best time, before about 9am, when the lanes are almost empty, the light is soft and residents are sweeping their doorsteps. By mid-morning, tour groups and photographers fill the most photographed corners, and visitors may queue briefly for the best spots. Late afternoon is quieter again as day-trippers leave. This is a residential area, so visitors are asked to keep noise low, avoid entering private doorways and ask before photographing residents, particularly women and children. Some children and residents may ask for money for posing, which visitors can decline politely. Getting lost is part of the experience; the medina is small, and the lanes eventually lead back to a square or a gate. The area has no entry fee.