Valparaiso: Graffiti doesn’t have to be vandalism
Valparaiso, and the nearby beach resort of Vina del Mar, are just a couple of hours on a bus from Santiago, and they’re well worth a visit if you’re in the area.
I stayed in Valparaiso because it’s cheaper, and you can easily visit Vina del Mar on a day trip by bus, or even on foot.
The main thing that struck me about the city was the variety of different building styles, painted in a multitude of colours and decorated with graffiti. While graffiti has a bad name in most cities around the world, being painted over or scrubbed off the sides of buildings, in Valpo (as it’s affectionately known), they embrace it, and it really is fascinating.
You can spend at least a day getting lost among the mish-mash of streets, funiculars, steps and passageways. Here’s a selection of some of the best architecture and artwork I saw.
Graffiti doesn’t have to be vandalism
In any other city, this would be a ‘dodgy alleyway’
Why stop at painting the house bright red?
As if the houses aren’t colourful enough, they’ve gone and painted the steps too!
Even the boats are multicoloured
Wouldn’t the world be a better place if all cities were this bright?
I think there’s one little patch they couldn’t quite reach…
Themocracy
Love this! Am tempted to paint a mural on the front of my place…
I know! Me too! Although I know some people in my block would have things to say about it. I want to do some graffiti in our lounge :)
Amazing!! There is nothing better than street art! One of my most favourite sights to see :)
Becki | Backpacker Becki recently posted..Discovering Berlin’s Secret Underground
I know. It’s a shame it’s often in dodgy areas where I don’t dare get my camera out!
I loved Valpo, with this artsy feeling and paintings everywhere! It gets you in a pretty good mood! I myself wrote something about it here (http://lespetitspasdejuls.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/arte-callejero-en-valparaiso-la-hermosa/) and have such great memory of the place.
Makes you want to paint, doesn’t it?
Les Petits Pas de Juls recently posted..Photo Series of the Month : a Janzu session
I’d love to be able to paint, but it would be a disaster if I attempted street art!
What’s up with the Canadian flags on the boats?
The artwork on the red house is pretty impressive.
Haha. I’m not sure. Maybe they just love Canada…