7 Colourful Places in Italy worth visiting

Looking for the photo destination to dream of in your picture book? I’ll suggest to you 7 picturesque and colourful places in Italy…

Rolling hills with mists veiling her peaks, plains like carpets with golden wheat covering every inch. Marble statues, metal sculptures, and canvas after canvas of startling beauty. This is the Italy most people know of, the product of centuries of dedication and love for a country filled with beautiful people.

And yet, something else almost always goes unnoticed when thinking about Italy.

The towns themselves, are homes to the same creative and artistic folk whose works we love to walk amongst. The love and dedication that Italians have put into their arts, crafts, and architecture, can also be seen in the colours they use to paint their homes.

Today, join me as we go about a few of these homes, towns where the pastel has been put to good use and the final product, towns filled with the most colourful homes and houses, makes for the photo-destination to dream of in your picture book.

1. Manarola

The Cinque Terre town of Manarola is already gorgeous enough as it is, perched up on the rock overlooking the bay and water. In fact, the first bits of colors are right there: the deep blue of the sea, the calm grey of the rocks of the cliff, and the green of flora hugging the rocks and swaying in the sea breeze.

So, it does not take much to make Manarola the perfect destination stop for anyone with their camera, hiking boots, and beach chair. Yet, Manarola takes things a step further than most coastal towns dare to try.

The paint on the homes of Manarola is like an artist’s pastel. Reds, whites, oranges, yellows, blues, pinks, greens, lime, and every bright and primary color you can imagine, and then some.

There is a reason Manarola is a favorite among travelers: the food, the colors, the atmosphere, the waters, and the relaxation.

For many, it is all about walking the streets of Manarola, taking in the village’s aura and atmosphere, and taking in the feeling that at least here, far from the hustle and bustle of your own city, time has stopped and will let you have a breather.

Then you throw in the cooking classes to be had here, the crafting lessons you can experience for a few Euros, snorkeling, swimming, boat rides with local wines on board, or visits to wineries where you get it to see it all being done…Manarola is literally a paradise where all you have to do is show up.

You will be tempted to spend more than a single night in Manarola. If you are, here are a few places I found great:

Places to stay in Manarola

1. Hotel Marina Piccola
2. Olimpo Affittacamere
3. Arpaiu
4. Terre Pelagos 2
5. Affittacamere Ambrosia

Note though: stuff can get really expensive out here on the Cinque Terre. Plan wise, plan well, and plan in advance if you want to get the most out of your wallet and time.

For more on Manarola, visit my blog, or take a peek at my YouTube channel on Manarola where I do walkabouts!

2. Riomaggiore

Another village in the Ligurian region, Riomaggiore is but 2 minutes away from Manarola by train.

And almost a mirror to Manarola, Riomaggiore adds to the lively atmosphere by throwing in its own twist: boats!

Riomaggiore’s stone houses create a perfect blend of colors with the rocky cliffs the village is on. Some are built right on the edge and to anyone with a camera and time, taking shot after shot of the houses is a fun activity.

And that is even before you consider the coloring of the houses themselves.

The aerial views of Riomaggiore are the best at describing some of the most beautiful and one of the most colourful places in Italy.

Like with Manarola, all manner of bright colours are on the buildings. Doorways and window frames form sharp contrasts to even more gorgeously colored walls, making Riomaggiore a really beautiful village to walk amongst.

And that is even before you take a few steps and you find yourself at the pier, scrolling through dozens of tiny boats and fishing skiffs, and torn for choice because you are looking for colour and beauty rather than how much fish one can carry.

The waters around Riomaggiore are filled with even more colourful fish, and going on an excursion is bound to fill your memories with images worth taking away and sharing.

Like with Manarola, Riomaggiore has quite a few AirBnBs and hotels on offer, all offering state-of-the-art facilities and services:

Places to stay in Riomaggiore

1. Pepita di Rio
2. Appartamento chic Riomaggiore 5 Terre
3. Locanda Ca Da Iride

Warning: This is an expensive part of Italy to travel, so plan ahead and be on the lookout for ways to cut down on costs. If you can plan ahead like buying train tickets in advance, your travels will be so much less annoying than you would think.

3. Positano

Italian towns have a good relationship with their cliffs; that must be why there are so many gorgeous towns perched right on the edge of the sea.

Positano is a commune on the Amalfi Coast in Italy in the province of Salerno, some 75 minutes from Naples, and 20 minutes from Sorrento.

READ: Top 15 Amalfi Coast Towns Worth Visiting!

Color has also always had a good relationship with Positano: back when the Byzantines had strong claims to this part of Italy, they brought over icons now found in Positano’s churches. And back when Arab sailors graced Positano’s shores, Arab art in the form of Majolica tiles was poured into the town.

Today, Positano’s color mostly comes from her buildings and terraces and roofs and long beaches and waters and whatnot.

To start with, the biggest draw to Positano is her beach, long at 300 m, it is always filled with artists, actors, celebrities, and all manner of less famous folk. On any given day you will see the beachfront of Spiaggia Grande covered in beach umbrellas and towels, with almost as many boats out on the water carrying as many people.

Positano’s colourful nature transcends that of Manarola and Riomaggiore though. Here, it is not only the buildings that resemble an artist’s pastel. As I mentioned, Positano is a favorite of artists, celebrities, and famous folk. This has made her streets covered in stores and shops that sell everything from sandals to hats to scarves to shirts, dresses, and all manner of clothes.

Positano is a beautiful place if you are looking for rest and relaxation in the Mediterranean sun. It is also the place to be if you are looking for fun and excitement. There are many hotels on offer, and even more AirBnBs to stay in:

Places to stay in Positano

1. Casa Guadagno
2. Villa La Tartana
3. Hotel Marincanto
4. Hotel Villa Franca
5. Il Barilotto

F.A.Q.s about Positano

1. Where can I park in Positano?

Free parking is available outside the village center in Nocelle and Montepertuso. Free street parking is reserved for residents (white and yellow lines) while public parking is identified by blue lines. Paid parking lots in De Gennaro and Mandara but it is costly.

2. Best time of the year to visit Positano?

April – October.

3. How long should I spend in Positano?

A few hours should be enough to cover the small village/town.

4. Burano

Burano is an island in the Venetian Lagoon some 11 km from the more famous city.

Its colourfulness is unchallenged. In fact, Burano has repeatedly been cited among the top 10 most colourful places in the world, the houses painted in all manner of bright colors to juxtapose against the green of the waters.

On any given day, Burano’s locals will be found out in the streets, the elderly ladies working on their lace, children rushing about on their bikes, and fishermen bringing in the fish on their boats. All in all, a wholesome atmosphere is to be found in Burano, with all the residents and tourists up in one activity or another.

And if lace-making is not for you, the glass-making industry in Burano has been elevated into an art form, the crystalline crafts producing incredible works.

The thing about Burano is that it takes every little activity and industry and carries it further than most.

For color, go to the Balssare Galuppi Square of Burano, or visit the House of Bepi, the most colourful house in Burano. At the Square, you will find yourself surrounded by colors from one shop to the next, each selling their own different wares. The fun thing will be trying out the fish in the restaurants, or snacking on a Burano cookie. All this while surrounded by so much color it is almost impossible to imagine.

At sunset, your day is made as the dwindling light strikes the colors of the different homes. Sunsets are always beautiful but in Burano, it feels so much deeper.

Just in case you also fell in love with Burano, here are a few places you can stay at, at least until the feeling passes and the travel bug begins to bite:

Places to stay in Burano

1. Casa Burano
2. Night Galleria – bed & art
3. Casa arancione a Burano
4. Burano L’ Occhio sulla Laguna
5. Alla Torre 735 – Stay Local Burano

F. A. Q.s

1. Can I ride by boat to Burano from Venice?

Yes. A Vaporetto is 45 min away and makes a stop in Murano.

2. How long should I spend in Burano?

A few hours is enough.

3. When is it best to visit Burano?

April – June and September – November.

4. How do you get around Burano?

By boat. Burano is also very small, making walking also a good way to get around.

5. Should I beware of anything in Burano?

Scams. The lace-making is very developed in Burano, as are scammers. Beware of paying too much for lace (good ones go for 500 or more), or too little (50 Euro or less).

5. Procida Island – One of the most colourful places in Italy

Procida Island is a small island in the Bay of Naples close to Capri and Naples itself and by far one of the most colourful places in Italy worth visiting.

Procida Island is less famous than Capri, and only because the more famous and expensive tourist spot is favored by actors, singers, and celebrities.

READ: 10 Things To Do in Procida Island: Italy’s Hidden Gem

What makes Procida Island just as good is the colourful nature of its houses and shops. Immediately you debark at Marina Grande, and a blast of colors hits your face, letting you know you are someplace far from the grey and dark of city life.

You throw your gaze across the pier and notice the dozens of boats, kayaks, and other sailing craft with joyful passengers on board about to set sail on one adventure or another. You decide to pop into one of the many restaurants you can see from the marina and wonder whether what you heard about the lemons in this place was true. Then you start walking Procida Island’s streets and discover that, at the very least, what was said about the colors here was true.

Places to stay in Procida Island

Some of the best places to stay include:

1. La Casa sul Faro
2. La Suite Boutique Hotel
3. Solcalante
4. Insula Boutique Hotel

F. A. Q.s about Procida Island

1. How often are ferries from Naples?

There are daily ferries, on either the speedy hydrofoil or the slower ferry.

2. Can you walk around Procida Island?

Yes. Hiking around the island is a favorite activity among tourists.

3. How long should I spend in Procida Island?

The island is small, so a few hours is enough.

4. Do I bring my car to Procida Island?

Best not to. The roads and streets are narrow, and parking can be expensive.

6. Portofino

Portofino is a village to the SouthEast of Genoa.

It is famous for its pastel-colored houses, high-end boutiques, and restaurants, and for hosting a huge array of very expensive yachts on its pier.

As one of the most colourful places in Italy, and indeed the world, Portofino’s call to fame lies in the gorgeously colored buildings lying right on the edge of the sea waters that are themselves a startling green. The colors are bright, mainly yellows, pinks, oranges, and cream, set against the green of the surrounding hills and the water and the boats on the pier.

Portofino is actually so popular among tourists that in 2023, the local municipal council set a ban on tourist photography since it was responsible for causing many traffic jams and congestion on the streets of Portofino.

Little wonder: given the number of expensive yachts and mansions in Portofino, it is a surprise that the entire place is not off-limits to tourists, for which I am grateful. Portofino is truly picture perfect – and I mean that in all seriousness if you consider how many postcards have Portofino on them – and spending a few hours in your life in this small village is well worth the travel.

PS: Try to make the climb from the pier to the Fort of St. George. The view from up there, with Portofino laid out below you, is simply irresistible!

As you probably realize by now, Portofino can be really expensive. Even so, perhaps you might want to spend more than a few hours.

Places to stay in Portofino

1. Hotel Piccolo Portofino
2. Albergo Nazionale
3. La Casetta di Portofino by PortofinoVip

7. Vernazza

One of the five villages of the Cinque Terre Five, Vernazza is famous for its picturesque setting, pastel-colored housing, nature trails, and local recipes.

Unlike in Manarola or Riomaggiore, the houses in Vernazza aren’t built right out of the rock. Still, the color scheme where the blue of the water is offset against that of the housing is there, creating a huge draw for tourists to the area.

In fact, one of the greatest ways to enjoy Vernazza’s charms is by descending into the village from the heights above. There, you come off from the nature trails and take in the surrounding country. From above, Vernazza is like a painter’s pastel, with the houses all in different colors while a standard blue – the sea – is beside them.

Some of the best view spots for taking photos are from high up in the hills, or well out on the waters from the boats. From within Vernazza’s streets, a different kind of fun is to be had. There are numerous gift shops where you can buy anything from hats to perfumes. Some stores offer crafting classes on wines, olive oil, and lemons sourced from the very terraces surrounding the village.

Note though: driving to Vernazza is ill-advised, as not only are the streets too narrow, but locals frown on non-local vehicles. Plus, what car parking is to be had is not only limited in the number of spots available, but also rather far from Vernazza.

Just in case you were interested, here are a few places you can stay in:

Places to stay in Vernazza

1. Hotel Gianni Franzi
2. Pensione Sorriso
3. Rina Rooms
4. Affittacamere PZeta
5. Economy Rooms

I hope you enjoyed my list and with time I’ll be updating more on this list of one of the most colourful places in Italy worth visiting.

I’d love to know which of the 7 mentioned is your best aesthetically.