Colgadas

Colgadas, or Las Casas Colgadas (Hanging Houses), is a group of medieval houses built over a cliff edge in Cuenca, Spain. They protrude over the Huecar Gorge and form one of the most recognizable images of Cuenca’s historic center. The buildings date from the 15th century and are characterized by timber-framed upper floors projecting over the rock supported by wooden beams, with whitewashed lower walls and small windows.

The best-known structure is the Casa de la Sirena (House of the Mermaid), noted for its mermaid motif on the exterior and for giving the site its dramatic silhouette. Parts of the complex were later adapted; today, one of the houses houses a museum of Spanish Abstract Art, and another houses a restaurant.

Location and significance: They lie within Cuenca’s Old Town, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 as part of Cuenca’s historic town. The Casas Colgadas are a symbol of the city, widely photographed and a key anchor for tourism. Architecture: They are built into the cliff face and supported by cantilevered wooden beams, combining medieval civil architecture with rock-cut setting; the arrangement demonstrates adaptive use of topography in urban design.

Access: The site is accessed from the historic center and visible from viewpoints and the nearby Puente de San Pablo; it remains a major tourist attraction.