June, 2018
With a plethora of fabulous tourist destinations in southern Italy’s Calabria region, the famous Murales (murals) in Diamante are definitely worth visiting…
I have to let you in on a little secret, I did go slightly crazy taking loads of photos today. But the murals are not the only attraction in this pretty coastal town.
Tip: This article is now available as a mobile app on iTunes and GooglePlay. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.
History of the murals
With over one hundred and fifty murals decorating Diamante and painted on almost every wall of every narrow laneway, you’ll have fun exploring this art.
I’ve recently heard that there are around three-hundred murals now, but not sure if this is correct?
Focusing on a different subject or theme, emerging and established artists started leaving their mark on the walls of Diamante back in 1981.
The original idea ‘Operazione murales’ came from the painter Nanni Razzetti, whom was given the go-ahead on his idea from local council. And so, the ancient stone walls became a real-life easel for around eighty-three of Razzetti’s colleagues.
Since 1981, some murals have deteriorated to just a scraping or a faded smear across walls.
Other images are maintained and still very fresh.
New paintings appear and it’s wonderful to see that local authorities are not adverse to this type of artistic venture. Then again, how could anyone be against such creative beauty?
Wander along and absorb yourself amongst this open-air art gallery…
…whilst visualising artists creating their treasure on a fresh stone canvas, across a window, down a narrow laneway, or within a tiny doorway.
In search of the Murals
As an absolute lover of street art, avidly seeking this art out regardless of the country in which I travel, I’m more than excited to wander through in search of these murals.
I didn’t mange to pick up a map of the murals today from the information office. Yes, there is a map. Instead, I counted on stumbling my way around.
Rest assured, you can’t really get lost in Diamante as all lanes and roads lead to the sparkling Tyrrhenian Sea. Although before arriving today, I did check an online map just to get a feel for an approximate street in which to start.
If you’re anything like me when travelling, not too organised, don’t have data on your phone or rarely take it out of your pack, and leave everything up to chance, then this is how your day may pan out…
…walking in the labyrinth of cobbled lanes whilst losing yourself in search of art.
There’s so much incredible talent in this town that it’s not long until amazement takes a hold.
Art is absolutely everywhere…
Tile masterpiece in the making.
Even Hawaii gets a mention…
Striking artistic jewels grace the plainest of canvases…
Diamante the name
In case you’re wondering, Diamante means ‘diamond’ in Italian and no, diamonds were not found in this region.
The name comes from the Diamante Citron, which is a type of lemon boasting several varieties, widely exported to other parts of Europe and the world. One type particularly looks quite warty and not very appealing at all – I’m yet to taste this fruit.
Poets such as Byron and D’Annunzio made the Diamante Citron famous and this fruit is also sought after by the Jewish community, during religious feasts.
Diamante town
Dating back to the 1500s, Diamante’s Centro Storico (historic centre) is small but a pleasure to stroll through and very clean. This area seems to hold the highest concentration of murals.
Imagine using this art as your playground.
Of course…
It’s wonderful bumping into yet another fabulous lifelike mural around every corner and so unexpected.
I’m kind of glad I don’t have a map as discovering these murals on my own is a great surprise – although I know that I haven’t seen every mural in this town.
The only downside is that many are not signed or the artist’s signature has worn off with time. Perhaps a map provides this pertinent information?
The town’s waterfront is not short of trinket and souvenir shops. Understandably so as after all, this is a summer tourist destination for locals.
The fiery chilli is grown in this region and another reason for Diamante’s fame.
If you visit during September you can experience the Chilli Festival, which lasts several days. I imagine this is a gastronomic delight.
The calm Tyrrhenian Sea gently laps the shores of Diamante, which hints as if time has stood still…
A live taste (in Italian) by Rai in this video of the murals and also shows you a little of the town.
Popular in many countries and here also are love locks.
Another type of art, which I discovered whilst meandering along the waterfront…
Diamante dining experience
Due to its popularity for locals in the summer months as of course Italians flock to the sea, Diamante’s waterfront is lined with many restaurants. All offer a similar three-course ‘Tourist Menu’ including wine, for 15€.
Ristorante Pizzeria Il Giardino
Deciding I don’t want to eat a ‘tourist menu’ and preferring to savour a Diamante dish, I ask a couple of locals for the best place to eat. If it’s one thing I’ve learnt whilst living in Italy, Italians love to share their traditional and local dishes, and are passionate about you having a great dining experience.
Finally, I take the shopkeeper’s advice and crossed the Via Libertà stone bridge to Il Giardino on Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi, 44.
Advertising the tourist menu with anchovies – a local delicacy – I let the waiter know that I don’t feel like anchovies today. No problem: ‘we’ll make it seafood instead of anchovies’.
This is sounding great but short-lived with each course that arrived…
Antipasto – marinated anchovies with olives
Primi – pasta with anchovies and tomato
Secondi – fresh fried anchovies
I’m over anchovies!
I have to admit that I’ve never in my life been to a restaurant that served the same main ingredient for three consecutive courses and very disappointed that the waiter didn’t deliver on his promise. On paying, my waiter was no longer in the restaurant so I didn’t bother mentioning my disappointment to the new guy.
Informed by the Indian shopkeeper that this restaurant has been operating for around forty years, I thought I was onto a winner. Locals also dined here for lunch, but perhaps it’s my own fault taking the easy way out and selecting the Tourist Menu.
Anyway, back to the murals…which one is your favourite?
Getting there by bus
The Preite bus from the Cosenza Autostazione to Diamante costs 5€ one-way and takes around one and a half hours.
Make sure you tell the driver beforehand to stop at Diamante as he doesn’t go into the town, instead drives past.
You’re dropped along the highway and need to cross this to get to the town’s side, then walk down the steep hill.
When you need to return, there’s an old dilapidated bus shelter without seats on the town side, opposite to where the bus dropped you off.
Visit Nilla’s Photography for more global images. More posts on Italy.
Very interesting and thanks for sharing! These remind me a lot of some of the murals I just saw in the little town of Macomer, Sardinia!
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Hi Kelly, many thanks for your thoughts and glad you like my post.
I’m yet to visit Sardinia…maybe after the August silly season.
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Bella Italia .. grazie e arrividerci ..
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Sì, è vero, l’Italia è bellissima.
Many thanks for taking the time to comment, thought you may like the photos of the murals. 😉
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Wow I want to go here! How incredible are these murals? Thank you for sharing a totally new place and something so unusual. It’s great to have you join us at Dolce Vita Bloggers this month!
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Thank you for your great feedback!
I really enjoyed writing this post just as much as visiting Diamante – it’s an amazing place. Hope that I can show many travellers a few new off the beaten places as Italy is not just about Venice, Rome, Pisa, Amalfi, and Cinque Terre. Although these destinations are wonderful, there’s a lot more to experience here…
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Gosh, reading through the Dolce Vita Bloggers posts makes me feel like I’ve been nowhere in Italy! This town is RIGHT UP MY ALLEY. Art and Italy are my two favorite things in the whole world. Thanks for the awesome intro and the amazing photography! Love, Jasmine (questadolcevita.com). #DolceVitaBloggers
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Hi Jasmine, many thanks for your great feedback and glad you enjoyed this post and my photographs. Diamante is a special place, which you definitely should visit if you venture to the deep south. I haven’t visited Bergamo either yet… 😉
To be honest, I still haven’t seen much of Italy at all and have so much to see yet…I’ve been here almost 3 years!
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Beautiful post! I remember reading about this place in an art magazine quite a few years ago. it looks amazing. Ciao, Cristina
Ps I saw a sign in a restaurant in Roma you would appreciate ‘we are against war and tourist menu’!
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Many thanks for your comment Cristina and would love to read that article.
Ha, ha brilliant sign – hope you took a photo?
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I don’t remember where I saw the article, but I did take a photo of the sign!
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Thought you might have taken a photo of the sign. 😉
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This place looks incredible!! So much talent! 🙂
Lucy and Kelly
theblossomtwins.com
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It is an incredible town to wander through and believe the Murales are being added to again this year, so will need to do a follow-up post.
Many thanks for your thoughts.
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This is wonderful! We’re headed to Italy this summer. We’ll have to add Calabria to our itinerary.
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Fantastic! I have many more posts on Italy and also Calabria for travel tips.
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Hi Nilla
Fabulous photos! Definitely a must see when I get over to beautiful Italy. Thanks for sharing then on your blog for us all to enjoy.
Blessings Di
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Thank you for your comment Di and hope you do visit Italy soon – would love to show you around Calabria!
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So much talent in those streets. The art harmonizes very well with the old and noble architecture and your photography compliments it. Thank you very much ^_^
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Thank you Francis. The art is simply stunning and graces almost every corner – a pleasure to explore this town.
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This is truely inspiring! Thanks!
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It’s a very inspiring town with so much beautiful art, as you can see. 🙂
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many tx for such an illuminating post, Nilla — it’s truly heartwarming to find a place where art (& not just ancient art) is so fully valued ❤
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Hey da-al thanks for the feedback.
You’re right, I love that art and artists, regardless of whether it’s street art or in a museum are treasured here in Italy. 🙂
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Amazing
I had never seen such Art on walls.
Wonderful.
Shiva
🌷
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Hi Shiva, neither had I to this expansive extent and just loved wandering around and discovering amazing talent – it’s a pleasure visiting this town.
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The mural Aged is my favorite of this compilation. But they are all beautiful!
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Hi Patty, I love that one also but it’s hard to choose a favourite as they are all stunning!
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I guess you took pictures of every single mural in town 🙂 So would I 🙂 They are stunning.
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Actually no, I’m certain I missed many, although I’m not far from Diamante so I have no excuse to visit again.
The street art is stunning and I love that it’s become a permanent feature of the town and not removed or covered in graffiti.
I have many more photos that I didn’t include in this post, otherwise, it would ‘death by photo’! 😉
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There are so many talented people on this planet!
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Absolutely agree – make art not war.
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Yes!
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I was so happy to explore this town with my mom and her partner when they were visiting in September. The weather was a bit threatening but we managed to explore the town for a good while before the rain started. I definitely need to go back because you found some murales I didn’t stumble across! I also didn’t know there was a map, I guess it would be helpful but I do think wandering and discovering them on your own is so much more interesting and enjoyable.
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Glad you had a great time and always good to show friends and family Calabria.
You can definitely wander for hours and still not find all the murals as there are so many. I still prefer stumbling upon the murals without a map – much more fun. 😉
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Interesting
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Thank you and happy that you found this post interesting.
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You’re welcome
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I’d already seen that one, but well worth coming back. 🙂
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Indeed you have. 😉
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🙂
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Wow, beautiful photos! You’ve got a great eye for photography 🙂
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Thanks for taking the time to comment. Check out my Nilla’s Photography for many more photos. 🙂
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A fabulous post. 🙂 Grazie mille Nilla…
How have you been?
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Thank you Brian – it’s a fabulous town!
All OK but I’m now marooned here as my visa expired on the 20th and I haven’t got my new card yet…I submitted my renewal application with the Questura on the 30th July.
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What a shame. 30th of July? Sounds like the French Social Security. 3 months? Well, the good news it should come soon. Best of luck.
B.
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Thanks but I wish that was good news – it’s not, as my first one took 5 months, which I’m now told is fast. How long is a piece of string…
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What I was thinking was that in Mexico they say Wednesday is the best day of the week. Once it’s over, the week-end is only two days away. Sooo. With 3 months under your belt, it’s bound to happen sooner than 3 months ago… 😉
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Ha, ha, you crack me up but I get your point, strangely enough! 😉
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Glad to have made laugh. (It is a day “won” when you make a friend laugh) The wednesday thing is just another version of the half-empty, half-full glass… Where are you now then?
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Yes, I got that and thanks again for the laugh.
Still in Italy remember, I’m marooned. Have started writing about Peru, which will really confuse people as to my whereabouts. Continuing travel stories from South America in 2011 and will publish one on Sunday. 😉
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Oh. I thought you had to leave the EU, while being processed. Well, that’s not too bad. 🙂 Look forward to your post. Don’t know Peru (can you believe that?) except for a stop-over in Lima on my way to Chile. Ciao, ciao.
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No, not for a renewal, quite the reverse, I can’t really leave Italy, well I can, but I may not be let back in…
I can’t believe you haven’t been to Peru – a seasoned traveller such as yourself…spectacular country, but ripped-off there too many times – kind of takes the shine of eventually.
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Don’t take the risk. 🙂 Wait for the renewal. Chi
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Si, lo so…pazienza!
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Darn comment sent itself. Chi va piano va sano. 🙂 Perú? Yes, haven’t been there yet. There are still many places I haven’t been. Down under is one. 🙂 One day, one day…
Have a lovely week-end my dear.
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Indeed, but snail’s pace is slower than slow here…
Same, still too many places to explore yet.
Well, if you’re thinking of visiting The Land of Oz, then wait until I’m back – you’re always welcome to stay.
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Thank you. That’s very kind of you. 🙂
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My pleasure – love to have visitors. Hope you have a wonderful week. 🙂
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Grazie. Anche tu.
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How amazing! I’m not surprised you went crazy taking photos!
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Yes, it is an artistic feast for one’s eyes! Many thanks for taking the time to read my post and comment.
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Wow they are gorgeous! Did the town commission all the artists to make them?
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They are gorgeous and a pleasure to stroll through.
I don’t think it was a commission as such but more of a permission. I’ve written a little about its inception in the History of the murals section in the post. Many thanks for leaving your comment.
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I’d say you could easily spend a few days here just wandering and enjoying these beautiful works of art. The scenery is not bad either! What a wonderful place to visit.
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Agree and so relaxed, when it’s not summer – I refuse to go anywhere in Italy during August.
I do need to return soon.
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wow! I didn’t know that in Italy you can see so many amazing murals 😮 I’m a huge street art lover so thanks a lot for a travel inspiration. Love it!
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It’s amazing the art you bump into in Italy – it’s everywhere. Happy that I can show you Diamante’s beautiful art space.
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Honestly, I’m very surprised. Now I know that planning my next trip to Italy I have to check local street artists!
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Cool I’ve introduced you to Italy’s amazing street art.
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Perfect! I can’t wait. I’m sure I’ll be back in Italy soon 🙂
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There is so much to see in Italy apart from the milk-run tourist list. 😉
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Great! I‘m not a huge fan of overcrowded places 🙂
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Me neither – it’s getting harder and harder to find untouched places around the globe…
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Unfortunatelly you’re right 😦 but! You can always walk around the city without any plan. The best way to discover something new 😉
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Very true and always love discover what’s around an unknown corner…
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I wish they had been there when I visited many years ago. Beautiful Nilla, thanks for sharing.
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Thank you for the kind feedback. You visited before 1981? Must of been a different town then…
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An interesting place, indeed! Your photos capture the murals beautifully.
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Yes, very Karen and I hope to return – I’m not far away really. Many thanks for the kind feedback.
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Wow these murals are amazing and so eclectic too!
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They certainly are Rachael…many thanks for commenting.
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Oh wow! These murals are amazing. Would love to go this place someday.
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They are indeed Rachna and hope you get there some day. Calabria is not on the tourist milk-run, so still many untouched places to explore.
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I keep adding places to my Must Visit, Must See list. This looks stunning.
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It’s quite a relaxed place to wander around and absorb all the wonderful art. Not sure what Diamante would be like in the summer, so time your visit outside summer months.
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What an absolutely beautiful post! I love street art and this would be an amazing place to visit!
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Thank you Suzie!
Diamante speaks for itself – it’s not hard to take great photos of this amazing art.
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These are amazing murals Nilla! I love the quote in the one about women being fragile and strong and the one with the mother and baby in the boat is gorgeous! I always like finding street art when travelling. Your photos are fabulous.
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Thank you Debbie. They’re all quite amazing and so much talent around. Unlike in Australia, all artists in Italy are revered, it’s quite humbling.
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Oh wow, this is absolutely amazing Nilla. I had no idea about this in Cosenza. If we are ever in the area again we will definitely have to stop and check this out. Thanks for sharing it 🙂
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It is amazing and hope to re-visit so I can check all the murals out. 🙂
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Fantastic!
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Thank you – it’s a fantastic open-air art gallery!
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Wow! These are absolutely beautiful. I don’t blame you for seeking them out. I am a lover of street art too, so these would be high on my list to visit. Love the photos.
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Thank you for the feedback Kerry. I’ll have to return as I doubt I’ve seen all of the murals.
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Absolutely gorgeous!!!
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Thank you Valerie! It’s wonderful to immerse yourself in this amazing art and a bonus that it’s all for free…
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Gorgeous photos! Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you and glad you liked the photos.
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