The concept of monochromatic clothes—a popular trend in recent years—seems somewhat minimalistic, but the overall effect is dramatic. If coordinating a single outfit in one color is a bold move, covering an entire municipality in a singular trademark shade certainly packs a punch on a grander scale. Though entirely monochromatic cities look to be right out of a storybook, the practice has been in existence for centuries. In fact, communities with their own signature façade color have popped up all around the world from Mexico to Morocco. The appearance of a completely monochromatic village makes for a breathtaking immersive experience for visitors and residents. Yet good looks aren’t the only reason behind outfitting a full town in one tone. From a pink Indian metropolis that went all in on the rosy hue to celebrate a royal visit to a couple of Korean islands which opted for purple buildings to generate interest with tourists, read on to see why these mesmerizing monochromatic cities bet big on one color.
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Andalusia, Spain
Scattered across southern Spain’s Andalusia region are a number of communities dominated by whitewashed buildings. According to Spain’s official tourism board, the White Villages of Andalusia can be found throughout the seaside provinces of Málaga and Cadiz. Between the two locations, visitors can be treated to over 19 stops along the route of white villages. Multiple theories have circulated as to what originally inspired the unified white façades: One posits that the color was used to defend the buildings against the notoriously intense Mediterranean sun, while some say that the whitewashing method fought bacteria during times of brutal plague in the Iberian peninsula throughout the 16th and 19th centuries.
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Izamal, Mexico
Originally home to the ancient Maya civilization in Mexico’s Yucatán region, Izamal was colonized by the Spanish in the 16th century. As is the case with a number of monochromatic cities, the reason for the area’s investment in the particular pigment is up for debate. Some say Izamal was painted a sunny yellow in honor of a scheduled engagement with Pope John Paul II in 1993, while others contend its yolky hue long predates the papal visit.
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Chefchaouen, Morocco
This northern Moroccan city is famous for its ubiquitous vibrant blue, which coats everything from the façades lining the streets to the stairs that wind through its alleyways. Though there isn’t a strong consensus on the exact reason, several explanations behind the community’s commitment to azure have been proposed: The color repels mosquitoes; it is symbolic of the heavens and/or the nearby Mediterranean Sea; it is a valued color in the Jewish faith, and when scores of Jewish people sought refuge from persecution in the area during the 15th century, they covered the city in blue. Whatever the exact reason may be, we remain grateful for the choice.
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Jodhpur, India
Chefchaouen is separated from the north Indian city of Jodhpur by thousands of miles, but the two share a signature shade of powder blue buildings. The color was at one time associated largely with the Brahmin caste, which is the highest in the Indian caste system and was thus a point of pride identifying the Brahmin that lived there. It’s also been said that the sky blue color was chosen in order to keep homes cool amid the desert climate. Located in India’s Rajasthan region, Jodhpur is an eight-hour drive from pink monochromatic city Jaipur.
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Banwol and Bakji Islands, South Korea
Just off the western coast of South Korea are the small islands of Banwol and Bakji, with a combined population of approximately 150 residents. In an effort to increase tourism to the area, the local government devised a strategy to give the islands something that might appeal to visitors. They decided to build their campaign around the purple bellflowers that grow in the area by painting various structures, including telephone poles, shops, and some 400 roofs on the islands the color lilac. In keeping with the theme, officials also planted thousands more purple plants, including 30,000 New England asters and over 20,000 square feet of lavender fields. The two islands are linked by a bridge—which is, of course, purple.
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Collonges-la-Rouge, France
Nearly all of the buildings in this medieval commune share the same scarlet hue thanks to the local red sandstone with which they were constructed. Beyond the beauty of its ruddy complexion, other architectural details of Collonges-la-Rouges (such as its many turreted structures and charming cobblestone pathways) give the town a distinctly fairytale-like charm. Its roots trace all the way back to the eighth century, when the monks of the Charroux abbey established a priory in the area.
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Jaipur, India
In anticipation of an 1876 visit from the Prince of Wales (who would later become King Edward VII), Raja Sawai Ram Singh I decided to coat the buildings of Jaipur in a festive pink. Over a century later, “the Pink City of India was officially registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO World Heritage Committee in 2019. The jewel of Rajasthan’s capital is its decadent salmon-hued Hawa Mahal, which translates to “Palace of Winds,” named so for its efficient ventilation system. According to the Hawa Mahal’s website, the pink and red sandstone structure is the world’s tallest building without a foundation.
Photo: Isabel Pavia/Getty Images
Photo: Isabel Pavia/Getty Images
Photo: javarman3/Getty Images
Photo: javarman3/Getty Images
Photo: Matteo Colombo/Getty Images
Photo: Matteo Colombo/Getty Images
Photo: Tuul & Bruno Morandi/Getty Images
Photo: Tuul & Bruno Morandi/Getty Images
Photo: AaronChoi/Getty Images
Photo: AaronChoi/Getty Images
Photo: Luc Olivier/Getty Images
Photo: Luc Olivier/Getty Images
Photo: Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images
Photo: Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images