Cases de l'Onyar, Colored houses along Onyar River in Girona, Spain.

Cases de l'Onyar are the houses whose facades face the Onyar river along the Rambla and Carrer Argenteria in Girona's Barri Vell. Most are narrow, misaligned buildings that project over the water as gallery-like wooden and glass enclosures with roll-up blinds; horizontal openings are divided by mullions every 70 or 80 cm. Casa Masó, at Carrer Ballesteries 29, stands out by its white facade.

These buildings originated from medieval defensive structures along the city wall but underwent major rebuilding and expansion during the 1800s. That transformation converted the waterfront into the colorful residential quarter visible today.

These riverside dwellings show how the city integrated living spaces directly above water, with the Casa Masó representing a key moment in Catalan architectural thinking. Walking along the river reveals how residents adapted to this unusual building situation over generations.

Several bridges crossing the Onyar river provide excellent vantage points for viewing and photographing these facades from different angles. Morning and late afternoon light brings out the painted colors most effectively for photography.

Rather than simply built at the water's edge, these houses extend outward with gallery-style overhangs that project directly above the river and create an intimate relationship between home and water. This distinctive construction approach let residents literally live suspended above the flow while remaining fully integrated into the city above.