Curacao's Artful Architecture

The Caribbean region is known for happy, pastel-colored buildings that blend with the tropical landscape but no other island displays quite the architectural flavor of Curacao.  Nothing makes me happier than vivid, rich color so I was in a constant state of joy on the candy-colored streets of Willemstad, the island's capital. This Unesco World Heritage City combines Dutch colonial architecture with pure Caribbean style. A crayon box of colors cover the buildings so that walking the streets is like strolling through an art gallery. The flower accented building above is  a highlight of the Scharloo district, a historic neighborhood that's been transformed with street art.

The deep green house above is a landmark in Scharloo. It's called the Wedding Cake House because it was given as a wedding gift from a father to his newlywed daughter. It's the most photographed building in Curacao.

Downtown Willemstad enchants with 17th century architecture and bright hues everywhere you look. Curacao is famous for the kaleidoscope of colors, including citrus yellow, watermelon red, and cornflower blue that mark the island's iconic skyline.

The story goes that the buildings of Willemstad were once all stark white. A 19th century governor complained that gazing at all the glaring white facades highlighted against the intense sun, gave him migraine headaches. He ordered all residents to paint their houses any color but white. After his death, it was discovered that he owned stock in the only local paint company!  There's now a law that prohibits government officials from mingling business interests but there's also a law requiring owners of the historic structures to paint their building a bright hue and to repaint it every two years. 

I can't say that I'm mad at the governor or the reason that Curacao is so famously colorful. It's such an exciting, uplifting experience being surrounded by so much color that I think that more government officials should make laws requiring beauty and color.