Balmy Alley, Street art corridor in Mission District, San Francisco, US.
Balmy Alley is a narrow passageway in the Mission District lined with painted walls and garage doors. The murals cover every available surface with large colorful images created over several decades.
Painting began in the 1970s when local artists started adding their work to the alley walls. The project has continued growing with fresh murals regularly added to reflect current social issues.
The murals serve as a visual record of the Latin American community's presence and struggles in this neighborhood. Visitors encounter the works as an ongoing conversation about justice and identity that continues to evolve with new paintings.
The alley is easily accessible and can be explored on foot by visitors of all abilities. It is best visited early in the morning or on weekdays when crowds are smaller.
The artists paint without official permission and frequently repaint their own work, keeping the alley constantly changing. This means no two visits are exactly the same, as new images appear and transform regularly.
Location: San Francisco
GPS coordinates: 37.75180,-122.41200
Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:43
San Francisco brings together historical monuments and natural sites that reflect the city's unique history and geography. The Golden Gate Bridge, a 2,737-meter-long suspension bridge completed in 1937, is one of the region's most recognizable structures. Alcatraz Island, a former high-security federal prison operating from 1934 to 1963, is located in the bay and is visited by ferry. The Painted Ladies, seven Victorian houses built between 1892 and 1896, exemplify San Francisco’s characteristic residential architecture with their colorful facades facing Alamo Square Park. The city also includes Fisherman's Wharf, a historic port district developed from late 19th-century Italian fishing piers, and the Fillmore, a performance hall from the 1910s that contributed to the development of the West Coast music scene. Twin Peaks provide viewpoints at 928 feet (283 meters), while Lands End features rocky cliffs and hiking trails at the western tip of the peninsula. The Cable Cars, a mechanical transportation system operating since 1873, run on three lines through San Francisco's sloped streets.
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