I’ve been back for a few weeks from a recent trip to Italy. While editing my photos, I noticed a recurring theme – the wonderful colors of the buildings. In fact, if I had to use one word to describe this trip, I’d say: colorful!
I adore the colors of Italy: the myriad shades of terra cotta and ochre (from pale pastel yellow to intense rich coral), the greens (from mint to olive). It’s as though the crumbling architecture is enhanced by the colors.
Ever wonder about those colors? Where they came from? And how is that today, even the newer buildings are painted in the same or similar colors? The answer is pretty simple – mineral oxides and plant pigments. I am not suggesting that exterior paint is still made from mineral oxides, but in Italy, the tradition of painting exteriors in earth based colors has remained.
One night a friend took me for a drive in the wine country, the Oltrepo Pavese, and we pulled over so I could photograph this eye-popping coral house. Many modern homes and public buildings are painted in more vivid versions of the original mineral oxide-based colors. Even though it’s a bit surreal, I think it’s fantastic! Color makes me happy.
These photos were taken in some of the small cities I visited, and in the countryside, in Lombardia, a region in northwest Italy. Most buildings also have balconies filled with flower pots, drawing your eyes upward and adding to the kaleidascope of colors.
Maybe those colors were inspired by gelato?
If you like this story you may like:
and
Hungry? Top Gelato Spots in Lombardia
All material copyright PennySadler 2013. All rights reserved.
Beautiful post. I love COLOR too! I always feel better after seeing vivid, saturated color.
Hi Paula. Thanks for stopping by my blog and sharing.
Just like you, I love the colors of Italy! Somehow they just sink into your soul and enrich the experience. Can’t wait to go back!
LOVE those colors!
Beautiful! Even the colors of buildings makes you feel the culture of Italy through pictures. Not to mention that gelato looks pretty yummy too
Beautiful! Just the colors alone makes you feel the history of Italy through the pictures. Not to mention that gelato looks pretty yummy!
Thanks Samantha, the colors are delicious!
Thank you!
I adore Italy… the colours… yes… they make me happy too. 🙂
So gorgeous…just looking at these colors everyday would make me happy!!
Color helps!
Enjoyed this! I wrote a post last year called “The Sounds of Italy” but I quite like the idea of capturing the colors as well. I think my favorite Italian color though is “gelato” 😉
The sounds of Italy, I’ll check that out. Gelato, yes! 🙂
Italy will always do it for me. I love how all the colours are so warm.
I love how colorful Italy and the other European countries are. I wish the US could be as colorful!
I love those warm tones-it implies a sun-drenched summer day, even in the middle of winter! Throw in a pizza or pasta and I’m in heaven 🙂
I know where Pantone should look for their next Color of the Year.
I was thinking the same thing T2
If you would like to receive email notifications of new content on my blog, please visit the new site and subscribe! Thanks!