13 breathtaking photos of colorful places in Europe

While many people are familiar with Europe's iconic landmarks - like Big Ben and the Leaning Tower of Pisa - not everyone is aware that the continent is home to some of the world's most vibrant places.

Spain and Romania offer a vibrant architecture that attracts tourists from all over the world. Poland, Italy, and France are also home to vibrant places not found anywhere else.

Take a look at some of the most colorful spots in Europe below.

 13 PHOTOS

1. The five villages that make up the Cinque Terre, Italy are full of colorful buildings.

The Cinque Terre is a cluster of five small villages along the coast of the Italian Riviera. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination for its colorful buildings.

2. The sky in Tromsø, Norway, is often illuminated by the northern lights.

It is formed when gusts of charged particles released from the sun collide with gaseous particles in the earth's magnetic field.

3. The Rio Tinto River is located in the province of Huelva in Spain.

The river, which is located in the Spanish city of Minas de Riotinto, is known for its rusty reds and oranges. The shades can be attributed to more than 5,000 years of mining in the river, as well as iron dissolved over the years.

4. Zalipie is a village in southeastern Poland that consists entirely of buildings with floral patterns.

Residents began painting floral designs on their wooden houses over 100 years ago.

5. Kinsale, Ireland, is home to numerous neon buildings.

Many of the brightly colored structures can be found in downtown Kinsale, which is filled with everything from shops to art galleries.

6. The city of Menton, France, consists almost entirely of red, orange, and yellow buildings.

Menton is located on the eastern side of the French Riviera and is best known for its lemon culture.

7. The metro system in Stockholm, Sweden was designed to look like a colorful piece of art.

The Swedish city has 100 metro stations, each of which is painted with "unique art on its platform, walls or in the waiting room."

8. The city of Wroclaw in western Poland is full of attractive architecture.

Wroclaw may be known for its old-fashioned charm, but modern travelers prefer this place.

9. The Netherlands is one of the best places in the world to see colorful tulips.

The Dutch region is especially famous for its flower fields, which bloom from mid-April to early May. Various species are usually included, as well as other flowers such as daffodils and hyacinths.

10. Blue Village is located in the municipality of Juscar in Spain.

These once-white houses were painted a bright blue in 2011 to promote the Spanish premiere of Los Pitufos, a 3D Smurfs movie. According to Lonely Planet, Sony Pictures chose this location because there are a lot of mushrooms growing in Khutskar, making it a suitable venue for cartoon characters who love mushrooms.

11. Pena Palace is a colorful castle in the municipality of Sintra, Portugal.

Pena Palace "exemplifies 19th-century romantic architecture."

12. Colorful buildings can also be found in Portugal on the Costa Nova.

Fishermen once resided in these coastal homes, but later sold them as holiday homes.

13. Numerous areas of Bristol, England show colorful houses.

Locals claim that many of the city's most striking homes are located on Clifton Wood, Ambrose Road, and Argyle Place.