Chefchaouen is usually the first place that comes to mind when someone mentions the words “blue city”, but it’s not the only one. Charming towns that radiate with vibrant blue shades can be found outside of Morocco, and Europe is home to quite a few.
Oia, Greece
Oia is Santorini’s most picturesque coastal village and the main reason why so many travelers visit this island in the first place. Whitewashed, blue-domed buildings are the symbol of this charming town, and they represent the colors of the Greek flag.
Júzcar, Spain
This tiny blue town in southern Spain comes with a truly epic backstory. The houses in Júzcar aren’t blue for historical or symbolic reasons—they were painted this way in 2011, to celebrate the premiere of the Smurfs movie and the locals decided to leave it to attract tourists to the village.
Casamassima, Italy
Casamassima is a tiny commune in southern Italy, located in close proximity to Bari. Legend has it that the houses were painted blue during the 1600s because Duke Odoardo Vaaz hoped the village’s population would be protected from the plague this way. Some historians believe this vibrant color has a connection to Casamassima’s Jewish community instead.