Vibrantly colored cities are rarely seen aside from children’s books. However, these 9 cities turn ordinary streets into colorful towns.
Vibrant town of Burano, Italy. ShortShot. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Color awakens visual senses and influences mood. Studies have revealed that viewing specific colors can cause feelings of excitement, sadness or joy. Moreover, colorful cities are seeing more economic growth due to the visitors they attract. People are captivated by the rarity of colorful towns, which is caused by the takeover of modern, neutral design in most urban areas.
1. Procida, Italy
Island Town- Procida, Italy. Juliamaudlin. CC BY 2.0
This island, just off the coast of Naples, is the smallest in the Gulf and is home to a spectrum of colorful buildings. Procida is surrounded by volcanic mountains and has an estimated population of 10,300 inhabitants. Beating out nine other candidates for the title, Procida is the first island to be named Italy’s Capital of Culture, receiving the honor for 2022.
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
The harbour in Nyhavn, Copenhagen was built by Swedish prisoners between 1670-1673 and worked as a maritime port for three centuries. Lined on both sides with colorful eighteenth-century townhouses, the Nyhavn harbour is now filled with high-end restaurants, bars and shops.
3. Chefchaouen, Morocco
Often referred to as the Blue Pearl of Morocco, this predominantly blue town is located in the Rif mountains. Some say the town received its blue color as an ode to the Mediterranean Sea, while others believe the color blue represents the Ras el-Maa Waterfall. Residents maintain the blue hues by painting the town twice a year for upkeep and once before Ramadan.
4. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Streets of La Boca in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Alessandro Grussu. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
La Boca is known for its brightly-painted houses and the performers who inhabit the colorful streets at night. The houses were painted in the 1960s by a local artist, Benito Quinquela Martín, who painted an abandoned street with bright colors. The rest of the neighborhood decided to paint as well, and they have become a tourist attraction for Buenos Aires.
5. Izamal, Mexico
“Yellow City” - Izamal, Mexico. Adachphoto. CC BY-SA 2.0
Nicknamed the “Yellow City,” Izamal is a small town in the state of Yucatan. Founded by the Mayans nearly 2,000 years ago, it is believed that the town is named after the ancient Mayan god Itzamna. This yellow city holds the largest Mayan ruin remaining in Izamal, Kinich Kak Moo.
6. Willemstad, Curacao
Colorful Coastal Town - Willemstad, Curacao. Jessica Bee. CC BY 2.0
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is made up of four countries: Aruba, St Maarten, the Netherlands and the island of Curacao. The wide range in brightly-colored homes is the result of former governor Albert Kikkert complaining of headaches. The belief among locals is that in 1817, Kikkert had all the buildings painted in bright colors because the sun’s glare caused him headaches. Willemstad is currently on the UNESCO World Heritage List to be protected and enjoyed by present and future visitors.
7. Bo-Kaap, South Africa
Neighborhood Full of Color- Bo-Kaap, South Africa. Berniedup. CC BY-SA 2.0
The colorful houses in Bo-Kaap, once known as the Malay Quarter, date back to the 1760s. They were built and leased to slaves who came from Malaysia, Indonesia and other parts of Africa to work. There came a point when the slaves were able to own the property and, in celebration, they painted the buildings in different colors. This expression of joy and freedom turned the brightly-colored neighborhood into a tourist attraction today.
8. Guanajuato, Mexico
A UNESCO Heritage Site, Guanajuato houses colorful multilayered hilltop homes. Built in the baroque and neoclassical style, the colorful town’s main attraction is Cathedral Basilica Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato. Painted entirely yellow with a stark red roof, construction began on the Cathedral in 1760 and finished a little over 100 years later in 1864.
9. Jodhpur, India
Blue Houses of Jodhpur, India. Camwears. CC BY-NC 2.0
Although a continent away, the houses of Jodhpur resemble those in Chefchaouen, Morocco for their blue hues. These houses sit on the edge of the Thar desert in northwestern India. Locals say that in the past, the priestly caste of the Brahmin community painted their houses blue to differentiate themselves from other castes. Since then, the color blue has been linked to the Brahmin people. Mehrangarh Fort offers an elevated view of Jodhpur, providing visitors the opportunity for a bird’s-eye view of the blue.
Jennifer Sung
Jennifer is a Communications Studies graduate based in Los Angeles. She grew up traveling with her dad and that is where her love for travel stems from. You can find her serving the community at her church, Fearless LA or planning her next trip overseas. She hopes to be involved in international humanitarian work one day.