The colourful houses of the Onyar: Girona's signature view
Facades in reds, ochres and greys leaning over the Onyar river and mirrored in the water: it's the most photographed image of Girona. And the palette is no accident.
Updated: 2026-06-03
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The colours of the Onyar houses aren't random: during the 1980s restoration, painters Enric Ansesa and Jaume Faixó designed a palette of 39 earthy tones (reds, ochres and greys) to harmonise the facades, as part of the project signed in 1983 by architects Josep Fuses and Joan M. Viader.
What makes the Onyar houses so special
The city's iconic image
The painted facades lean over the river in the old town and are reflected in the water. It's the most photographed scene in Girona and visually separates the old city from the modern one.
A palette that's anything but random
The colour scheme was devised by painters Enric Ansesa and Jaume Faixó: a range of earthy tones (reds, ochres, greys) across 39 shades, worked out from traces of the original colour found on the facades.
Houses built on the old city wall
They rose from the 16th century onwards on the medieval wall of the west bank, gradually absorbing it. Many are double-faced: the grand facade faces the street and the rear opens onto the river.
Casa Masó, the only one open to visitors
Among the facades stands the white Casa Masó, the work of Modernista architect Rafael Masó. It's the only house in the whole Onyar row you can step inside.
The story behind the colours
Who chose the palette, and when
The major restoration of the row was signed in 1983 by architects Josep Fuses and Joan M. Viader. For the colours they brought in painters Enric Ansesa and Jaume Faixó, who studied the original colouring still visible on the facades and designed their own palette of around 39 earth-derived tones. Since no commercial range matched their study, they created their own acrylic colours, more resistant to the weather. Far from a spur-of-the-moment choice, it was a carefully considered process to harmonise dozens of very different houses.
Two-faced houses over the river
In the 15th century there was barely any building here; it was from the 16th century that houses began to go up on the wall of the Onyar's western bank, which ended up absorbed into the homes themselves. The row grew between the 17th and 20th centuries, which explains the mix of heights and styles. Most have a double facade: the main, grander one faces old-town streets such as Ballesteries or Argenteria, while the river side spills over the water with galleries, balconies and hanging laundry.
Casa Masó, white among the colours
Casa Masó is the birthplace of architect Rafael Masó (1880-1935), a leading figure of Girona's Modernisme and Noucentisme. It came from joining four houses the family acquired over time, which Masó remodelled in two phases (1911 and 1919), unifying the facades. Its front on carrer Ballesteries blends a Secessionist feel with Baroque touches, while the rear opens galleries of glass and ceramic over the Onyar. It's the only house in the row open to the public.
How to see them and photograph them
The best bridges for the photo The classic view is from the Pont de les Peixateries Velles, the red iron bridge built by Gustave Eiffel's company in the late 1870s, shortly before the Eiffel Tower. From its centre, the facades line up perfectly, mirrored in the river. The nearby Pont de Sant Agustí offers another excellent angle of the same row.
Visiting Casa Masó It's at carrer Ballesteries, 29. It can only be seen on a guided tour for small groups (around 8 people maximum) at set times, so it's worth booking ahead. General admission is around 5 €, with a reduced rate of about 2.5 € for students, retirees and the unemployed. Check current times and prices on the Fundació Rafael Masó website.
Best time and where they are The houses sit right in the old town, on the bank of the Onyar between the Rambla de la Llibertat and the Barri Vell. Early morning and late-afternoon light brings out the reds and ochres and improves the reflection in the water. On still days with little wind the river settles and mirrors the facades far better.
Frequently asked questions about the Onyar houses
Why are the Onyar houses painted in colours?
The colours were set during the 1980s restoration: painters Enric Ansesa and Jaume Faixó designed a palette of earthy tones (reds, ochres and greys) to harmonise the facades. It isn't a free choice made by each resident, but a range studied from the traces of original colour.
Where are the best spots to see the colourful houses?
The best-known view is from the Pont de les Peixateries Velles, the red iron bridge built by Eiffel's company. The Pont de Sant Agustí, right nearby, gives another very photogenic angle of the same stretch of river.
Can you go inside any of the Onyar houses?
Yes, just one: Casa Masó, the white facade by architect Rafael Masó. It's the only house in the row open to the public and is visited on a guided tour with prior booking, in small groups.
How old are the Onyar houses?
They began to be built in the 16th century on the old wall of the river's western bank, and the row kept growing between the 17th and 20th centuries. That's why they mix different heights, styles and periods in a single line of facades.
Keep exploring Girona: Hotels in Girona, What to do in Girona, How to get to Girona, Restaurants in Girona.
Discover Girona on a guided tour
Tours of the old town and the Onyar
A local guide takes you through the Barri Vell, the bridges over the Onyar and the best spots to photograph the colourful houses, telling you the story behind each facade.
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