These buildings are considered the unofficial symbol of Galicia and date back to the 15th Century. The original purpose were as granaries to store feed for the animals, as well as any farm produce that needed to be stocked or left to ripen off.

They are raised off the ground by stone pillars known as “pegollos”, which can be made of either wood or stone. Hórreos have an extensive and regionally complex vocabulary associated with their different parts, but, to simplify, at the base are huge slabs of stone called “pilpayos”, on which the “pegollos” stand.

These in turn are topped by a large flat stone called a “muela” which prevents rodents from getting in, the essential purpose of the hórreo. Then, a small stone is placed between the “muela” and the beams, on which the granary itself is built.

The sides are usually slatted for ventilation. These days very few are still used as granaries. Some are used to keep firewood or as a trastero to store a multitude of items. Some lie abandoned, though many have been restored.

Technical – Photos as shown top to bottom read left to right

 

Date taken	12 Nov 2017 13:49:54	11 Nov 2017 14:57:19	08 Nov 2017 14:01:24	08 Nov 2017 14:01:27	08 Nov 2017 14:23:50	08 Nov 2017 12:53:20
Exposure time	1/60 sec	1/100 sec	1/200 sec	1/200 sec	1/100 sec	1/125 sec
Aperture Value	5.00 EV (f/5.7)	6.00 EV (f/8.0)	5.00 EV (f/5.7)	5.00 EV (f/5.7)	6.00 EV (f/8.0)	6.38 EV (f/9.1)
ISO Speed Rating	400	100	200	100	100	100
Flash Fired	No	No	No	No	No	No
Metering Mode	Pattern	Pattern	Pattern	Pattern	Pattern	Pattern
Exposure Programme	Landscape	Landscape	Landscape	Landscape	Landscape	Landscape
Focal Length	55.0 mm	46.0 mm	155.0 mm	170.0 mm	24.0 mm	55.0 mm