07/16/2026
Between Cape Coral and Pine Island sits one of the most joyfully colorful little places in all of Florida, the fishing village of Matlacha. 🎨 Pronounced MAT-la-shay, this tiny community has transformed its old fishing shacks into a rainbow of bright pink, turquoise, and yellow cottages, galleries, and seafood spots.
Matlacha began as a working fishing village, and that heritage still runs deep, but over the years artists and free spirits moved in and painted the town in every color imaginable. 🎣 The little drawbridge that crosses the water is famous as one of the best fishing spots around, earning it the nickname the fishingest bridge in Florida. Wandering the short main strip, you will find funky art, fresh seafood, and a laid-back, unpretentious charm that feels increasingly rare on the developed Gulf Coast.
Matlacha is proof that a place can honor its fishing-village roots while becoming something wonderfully creative and vibrant. It is pure Old Florida with a splash of paint. Have you ever wandered the colorful streets of Matlacha?
