Why are there cities in different parts of the world where everything is painted the same color?

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Usually a person strives for variety. In the design and color of their home, everyone tries to show their individuality. However, there are places on earth where people for centuries have shown an enviable uniformity of taste and paint the walls in only one color. Such sights attract the attention of tourists, so the support of ancient design traditions today acquires a good financial motivation. This review is a story about the most famous monochrome cities in the world.

Chaven (Shifshuan), Morocco

This is probably one of the most famous "monochrome" cities in the world. All buildings in it are painted in various shades of blue, and this tradition has been strictly supported by the inhabitants since the Middle Ages. There are several explanations for this choice. According to one version, Andalusian Jewish settlers who were forced to flee Spain in 1492, fleeing the Inquisition, began to paint the walls blue. They chose blue as a reminder of God. According to another version, refugees of different faiths filled the city more than once, and residents decided to paint the walls in a color that symbolizes peace and tolerance. Now there are practically no settlers here, but the tradition has been preserved.

Jaipur, India

The capital of the state of Rajasthan, founded in 1727, pleases the eye of visitors with bright reddish buildings. For this, Jaipur is also called the "pink city". The explanation for this phenomenon is very simple - all buildings in the city are made of pink sandstone. It is this building material that can be obtained in large quantities nearby, so this choice has a completely economic justification. The city, which was built as the future capital, is very beautiful and attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world.

Izamal (Isamal), Mexico

This city is one of the "magical" Mexican attractions. This status was officially assigned to him by the country's Department of Tourism. A small town in the south of Mexico has a rich history and literally everything consists of historical monuments. The pleasant mustard-yellow color of the walls is a tradition that residents have been unswervingly supporting for many centuries. Its roots probably lie in the very distant past - the town is already more than two thousand years old, and many cultural traditions of the Maya Indians have been preserved here. For example, the main attraction is the Franciscan monastery of St. Antonio of Padua, built on the site of a destroyed ancient pyramid. It is possible that such a "solar" choice once had a religious meaning, but over time the reason was forgotten, and the tradition remained.

Colnogne-la-Rouge, France

A small commune village located in the center of France in the province of Limousin, almost officially bears the status of "the most picturesque" and attracts, of course, a lot of tourists. 600-800 thousand people visit it annually (despite the fact that there are only about 400 local residents in it). The reason for the monochromaticity of the settlement is also the local rock from which all the houses are built. It is not surprising that the name of the village is translated from French as "Red Colonge".

Juscar, Spain

The history of this Spanish village of only 200 inhabitants is very remarkable. The fact is that the blue color of the walls is not a tribute to an ancient tradition. Until recently, all the walls in the city were painted in white, traditional for Andalusia, but in the spring of 2011, the Sony Pictures film company approached residents with an unusual proposal. She was willing to pay everyone a decent amount for repainting the houses in a shade of blue. Such an unusual advertising campaign preceded the release of the film "The Smurfs". Two months later, representatives of the film company promised to return the village to its former appearance. At the general meeting, the village decided to agree and it was right. In six weeks, the village was visited by 80 thousand tourists (previously, only a few hundred came here a year). Therefore, after the expiration of the contract, the residents decided not to “cut the hen that lays the golden eggs” and remained the “City of Smurfs”. Of course, the "osmurfal" design is now supported not only by color, but by numerous images and figures of merry blue men.

Taxco, Mexico

The colonial city, built in the 16th century, has a very strict stylistic unity. In addition to the white walls, all the roofs are covered with red tiles, and on the balconies, windows and staircases there are black wrought iron gratings. In addition, white lines have been drawn on the roads paved with dark stone. The city is traditionally famous for the skill of local jewelers - silver is processed here. Therefore, Taxco is also called the "Silver City of Mexico".

It's interesting how completely opposite color schemes can be surprisingly beautiful, for example, the Italian city of Manarola attracts tourists with an abundance of colors.