Why are the houses in Greece white and blue?

If you have visited a cycladic island then you certainly took a few pictures in front of the picturesque white houses with the blue doors. Have you ever wondered why islanders paint their houses in these colors? In this article we will dig into the story of the most iconic Greek landmark. 

Why white?

The habit of painting the houses white dates back to 1938 during the outbreak of cholera in Greece. A national order mandated whitewash houses with a paint which contained limestone, a powerful disinfectant. This was an effective way to sanitize homes and reduce the spread of the disease. 

Why blue?

Fishermen and other seafaring men painted their windows and shutters with whatever was left over after painting their boats. Because of its components, blue was usually the cheapest paint color available. The blue used for Greek island homes was made from a mixture of limestone and a cleaning product called “loulaki,” which was a kind of blue talcum powder most islanders had readily available at home. 

And then?

Eventually, the military dictatorship that took over Greece in 1967 made the blue and white coloring of Greek island houses mandatory. They believed the colors would inspire patriotism and were reflective of Greek nationalism associated with the country’s flag and the bright sea and sky synonymous with the beautiful Mediterranean. A law was passed in 1974 to mandate the painting of Greek island homes in blue and white .

Today, the blue and white color scheme remains a popular choice for homes and buildings mainly in the cycladic islands such as Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos, Tinos, Andros and more.