Typical Home

Burano, Italy, is an island in the Venetian lagoon, often listed among the ten most colorful locales in the world. Here, Technicolor homes painted using the full rainbow are made all the more vibrant for their reflection off the green waters of the canals that snake through the town. There’s also the inevitable sight of Italian women embroidering original Burano lace—the island’s primary craft—while gossiping in the central square of Piazza Galuppi.

The multicolored houses originated as a sort of communal lighthouse for returning fishermen, so they could find their homes through the fog. Today, a strict color scheme remains in force: if residents choose to paint their home, they send a request to the government, which responds with the specific colors permitted for that lot.