Exploring new cities is always a pleasure, but it's even more exciting when these destinations are colorful. Whether it's a street with all the colors of the rainbow or an entire city in a monochromatic blue or pink, the colors of a place can leave a lasting imprint on our travel memories. Let's discover together some of the most colorful cities in the world!
Countries all over the world, from Chile to South Africa, to Cuba, host cities that have ignored the conventional, to propose something completely new. And travelers can only appreciate it!
The most colorful cities in the world
BURANO, ITALY
It is easy to see the Venetian island of Burano from the sea, the brightly colored houses somehow play the role of the lighthouse. According to the traditions of the island, local fishermen began to paint their houses in bright colors (shades of orange, red, yellow and purple) so that they could find them in the mist upon their return from fishing.
Now, this practice has become a law, and if you live on the island and want to paint your home, you need to ask for permission from the government, which will assign a color to your home. These homes attract travelers from all over the world.
BO-KAAP, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Formerly known as the Malay Quarter (this is where the descendants of the people of present-day Malaysia, India and Indonesia live who were deported by the East India Company to serve as a workforce in the XNUMXth century), the colorful buildings of Bo-Kaap stand out among the more traditional structures in Cape Town.
The mosques and houses in Bo-Kaap, a historically Muslim neighborhood, are a rainbow of dazzling blue, fuchsia, yellow and green. While the neighborhood is one of the oldest in the city (it dates back to the 16th century), residents have recently started transforming their homes. It is an expression of freedom, a celebration of Ramadan and Eid, or perhaps a simple desire to express their artistic side ...
WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO
I Caribbean they're chock-full of pastel-colored oases, but one of our favorites is Curacao, a pristine island in the Lesser Antilles. Locals say that in the early nineteenth century, Dutch Governor General Albert Kikkert suffered from migraines caused by the reflection of the bright Caribbean sun on the white buildings. He issued a decree to paint all structures in any color except white, and a series of pastel colors have adorned the island's buildings ever since.
JODHPUR, INDIA
The Blue City of India, located in the western state of Rajasthan, is a colorful reminder of the Indian caste system. In the past, Brahmins, the so-called upper classes, painted their houses in royal blue to differentiate their properties from those of the lower class. Over time, other houses have simply followed suit.
Many believe the color is popular today for a variety of reasons, including that of tradition. The chemical composition of the blue paint would be a good defense against termites and mosquitoes, the color keeps houses cool in this very sunny region. And above all, this bright color is also very beautiful!
LA BOCA, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
Caminito, the famous kaleidoscopic street of Buenos Aires, is located on the banks of the Riachuelo River. As extravagant as this neighborhood is, its fanciful facades have a very rational explanation: the houses were built from scraps of the local yard and painted with the remnants of available paint.
Today, the brightly colored block illuminates this popular neighborhood and makes it a tourist destination for visitors from all over the world.
JAIPUR, INDIA
Jodhpur isn't the only colorful city in the country. There is Udaipur, the white city, Nagpur, the orange city and Jaipur, the pink city. The capital of Rajasthan enjoyed a layer of pink paint in the 19th century when India was still a British colony.
To honor Prince Albert's visit, the city was painted in a hue traditionally associated with hospitality. Since then, a law has been enacted to keep the city pink and welcoming to visitors.
PROCIDA, ITALY
Procida, the island off the coast of NAPLES it is beautiful and colorful. The narrow streets are accompanied by sherbet-colored buildings that rise above sparkling waters. The most spectacular colors are in Marina Corricella, where tradition has it that fishermen painted their houses with bright colors so that they can be recognized from the sea.
TRINIDAD, CUBA
Located in the Cuban province of Sancti Spíritus, the buildings of the XNUMXth-century city of Trinidad reflect the natural environment: the green of sugar cane, the blue of the ocean and the yellow of the sun, sometimes all mixed on the facade of the same building .
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trinidad was built with money largely derived from the slave trade, and the resulting Afro-Cuban culture is represented in the colorful streets. Among the places not to be missed, the former convent of San Francisco, the Palacio Brunet and the Palacio Cantero.
BALAT, ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Off the beaten track of Istanbul, the colorful houses of the Balat and Fener neighborhoods are examples of the historic communities in the Jewish and Greek neighborhoods of the city. Having fallen into disrepair in the 60s and 70s, the neighborhoods are now on the UNESCO World Heritage List and many of the brightly colored houses have been renovated.
JÚZCAR, SPAGNA
While many of the world's most colorful cities have historical reasons for their different shades, Júzcar has a much more modern explanation: Hollywood. In 2011, Sony Pictures asked this Andalusian enclave to be able to paint the city in blue for the needs of the animated film The Smurfs. When the film was released in cinemas, Sony proposed to restore the village with the typical white color.
The inhabitants of Júzcar, however, got used to the tourists and voted to keep the city blue. Júzcar now has the distinction of being the only Smurf village in the world and the village regularly hosts tours and events around this theme.
VALPARAISO, CHILE
Even the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda couldn't help but defend the charm of the city where he once lived. The historic center of the port of the city is now recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and behind the vibrant and sometimes cluttered facades, there are clubs, restaurants and shops of all kinds. Street performers, in their style, quickly transform the streets (and even the funicular) into open-air art galleries.
PACHUCA, MESSICO
In the Palmitas district of Pachuca, in Mexico, in 2015 a huge fresco was born, covering 20.000 m² of surface on 209 houses and their facades. Not only does it cheer up the favela built on this hill, but the project has eradicated youth violence and created multiple jobs. Overall, it took five months to complete the fresco.
SAN JUAN, PORTO RICO
Drive through Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, and you may never see the same color twice. From lavender to lime, the buildings are a relaxing and photogenic complement to the historic town's cobblestone streets and picturesque sea views.
MENTON, FRANCE
This relatively small town of 30.000 people on the French Riviera may not look the same as its neighbors, but Menton's gold, salmon, and cherry buildings make it just as attractive.
SIGHISOARA, ROMANIA
Located in the historic region of Transylvania, Sighisoara may not be on many travelers' radar, but that's a shame. This pedestrian-friendly medieval town features buildings in bright colors of yellow, pink and green that beckon to be photographed. Stroll the cobbled streets and enjoy the views at one of the city's many restaurant-filled squares.
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Nyhavn is a beautiful harbor district in the Danish capital of Copenhagen. The colorful houses on both sides of the canal and the wooden ships are the main attraction of Nyhavn.
Today the striking yellow, orange and blue houses, some dating back to 1681, have been renovated and upscale restaurants fill the old port. Many of them have been the home of famous Danish artists. The house no. 20 was once used by the famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.
CHEFCHAOUEN, MOROCCO
Located in the mountains of Morocco in Morocco, Chefchaouen is often better known, thanks to Instagram and Pinterest, as the “Blue City”. The cobblestone streets and passages are framed by historic buildings painted in various shades of cyan, dusty blue and violet.
Theories abound as to why residents chose blue; some say it is to fight mosquitoes, while others say that local Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition used blue paint to symbolize heaven and heaven.
