Hórreos

Jan 28

“The people who give you their food, give you their heart.” —Cesar Chavez

Hórreos, food storage sheds, come in many shapes and sizes. They are built on pillars to keep food from the harvest from spoiling and to keep rodents out. I’ve included a video of a tour guide sharing information about the Hórreo de Carnota and palamars. In my screenplay, Wayward, Dora test-drives her tour guide skills by explaining their purpose to a few random pilgrims, earning her first tip. I also had Farren and Liam duck under one during a downpour. Check out my pitch deck on the main page to find out more about the screenplay and characters if you haven’t already.

Horreos that are more than a century old have protected status. They often have a cross or religious symbol on the roof as a blessing of protection over the contents. Sadly, many of the crosses along the way were vandalized. Most homes, farms, and even churches had them. They are still used for food storage but less so. You’ll often see newly built ones in the same style, often used as garden sheds. In the video, you’ll see one of the longest ones. The locals would tithe a percentage of their crops for the parish hórreo which would help provide for the church and the poor, particularly in times of famine.