jessica devnani's saturated streetscapes capture colombia's colorful town of guatapé

in the colombian town of guatapé, photographer jessica devnani happened upon a microcosm of color. the quaint andean town — located in the outskirts of bustling medellín — is home to just over 5,000 residents, and has increasingly become a popular tourist getaway for foreign travelers. visitors marvel at one of guatapé’s best-known treasures: its vibrantly colored building façades peppered with 3-dimensional relief drawings called ‘zócalos’. ‘the entire town is colorfully and cheerfully painted,’ devnani recalls, ‘it was an absolute pleasure to meander through and photograph’.

all images © jessica devnani

through her lens, devnani has captured the eccentric and enchanting quality of the village in a series of saturated streetscapes. guatapé’s curious charm is characterized by its residences, restaurants and hotels, which are colorized in a spectrum of vivid tones. shutters, roofs and doorways are painted in bold blues, vivid violets and perky peaches. lining the bottom of the buildings — forming a sort of skirt along their base — are carved bas-relief drawings. these graphic illustrations depict a broad scope of different aspects of everyday life, including cultural clothing, famous foods, and even political events. 

furthermore, guatapé is famous for being home to the ‘best view in the world’. ‘this is a very subjective title, but there is no doubt that it is high on the list,’ devnani continues. ‘atop a rock, which looks like it was literally dropped on top of a hill, you can view 360 degrees of the surrounding island scenery. being up there really makes you appreciate how beautiful our planet is.’

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