Most cities are colorful: They have different districts, interesting people, and unique stories. But let's drop the metaphor and focus on real color.
On every continent, there are neighborhoods in every hue imaginable. Here are some of the brightest.
La Boca
Many of the immigrants to the La Boca neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argntina, were from Genoa, Italy and they brought one custom with them: painting the outside of their homes with leftover paint from the shipyard. The houses in La Boca were not only painted with leftover paint, but built from leftover shipyard scraps.
Image: Flickr, Hernan Pinera
Burano
The story goes that the buildings in this tiny island near Venice, Italy, were painted bright colors so that fishermen returning home in the fog could recognize their houses.
Image: Flickr, Oliver Clarke / Flickr
Chefchaouen
For those who would rather paint the town blue: It's said that Jewish refugees in the 1930s brought the blue color to this town in Morocco to symbolize heaven -- or it may have been chosen because the color was considered a good mosquito repellent.
Image: Brian Hammonds
Guanajuato
The entire town of Guanajuato, Mexico, is a UNESCO world heritage site. Deservedly so, because it takes a lot of paint to become the most colorful city in one of the world's most vibrant countries.
Image: Eye Ubiquitous
Havana
Havana's bright colors have been documented since the 16th century. Although the paint has faded some, the colors still shine through.
Image: Flickr, Bryan Ledgard / Flickr
Jaipur
In 1876, Jaipur, India, was painted entirely pink to welcome Edward, prince of Wales. And it has stayed that way ever since -- kind of like that neighbor who leaves his Christmas tree up all year round.
Image: Flickr, vil.sandi / FlickrMoscow
Moscow is home to one of the most iconic, colorful buildings in the world: St. Basil's Cathedral. The fantastic colors of the cathedral -- representing the biblical depictions of the Heavenly City -- are mirrored throughout the city.
Image: Jeroen PelsValparaiso
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city of Valparaiso, in Chile, shines so much that it earned the nickname "the jewel of the Pacific."
Image: Ullstein BildBo Kaap
The Bo Kaap neighborhood of Cape Town, South Africa, is famous for its colorful buildings and large Muslim population. The bright colored walls are a new addition, perhaps born out of the optimism of the "Rainbow Nation," or simply a need for cheap paint.
Image: Dan KitwoodLisbon
Lisbon, Portugal, sits at the crossroads of Moorish and European influences and its colors reflect that. From the street art covered trams to the unique azulejo tiling, there is no shortage of color in this vibrant city.
Image: Peter Adams
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