SPANISH HORREO

We are traveling this week. So I have prepared ahead of time a couple of thoughts and impressions of our past travels.

An iconic image of Northern Spain are what are called horreo, or granary. We observed these in various sizes. Some of them are perched high above a barn, and might be 20 feet in length and 5 feet in depth. Others were small with a length say of 8 feet and a height of 67 feet.

These smallish versions are what I used to make the above drawing. This drawing was made the next morning, from iPhone photos. When I was taking the photos, I wanted to be sure that I understood how the horreo was constructed. Typically the basic structure was of stone. The floor was typically wood as was the sides with slots cut for ventilation.

Great care was given to the pediment and the eave.  Classically shaped stones were carved to give a Greek inspired flavor.  The slotted walls permitted air to flow thru.  Typically, all types of food stuffs that benefit from drying would be placed inside.  This could be corn, dried meats, grains, etc.

The large round stone discs that the structure sits on are to keep rodents from climbing up the posts and then into the structure.  In fact it is these stone discs, which are almost comical versions of classical capitals.