Fun Camino Facts

Thank you Alicia Wszelaki for the fun Horreo post – I remember a great afternoon traveling with my friend German Limeres where we visited the Horreo in Carnota as you mentioned it is the longest in Galicia 35 m – and is amazing!

‘Corn has an incredibly long shelf life.
Archeologists have been able to pop 1,000-year-old popcorn! – Alicia Wszelaki

Hórreos, found throughout northwestern Spain, were the answer to a centuries old European problem – how to keep cobs of corn and other crops dry and safe from rodents.

The length of the hórreo is dependent on how much corn the local area produced.  The longest hórreo in Galicia is located in Carnota, La Coruña.  It is 35m long!!

An a-MAIZE-ing innovation.” – Alicia Wszelaki (Camino – The Journey To Santiago)

For more information about Alicia Wszelaki’s movie please visit: http://caminothejourneytosantiago.com/blog/2013/5/24/6-degrees-of-santiago-innovation

Horreos Ancient Past:

The symbol of Carnota was built in the eighteenth century, during the years 1768-1783. In the latter year the building was finalized by adding 11 pairs of feet more, possibly to rival that of Lira in those years was under construction and quite possibly by the same architect. This work was fisterra baroque style by architect Gregory Quintela. The total length is 34.74 horreo impressive m and a width of 1.90 m. Consists of 22 pairs of feet and communicates with the outside through three gates.

An hórreo is a typical granary from the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula (mainly Galicia andAsturias), built in wood or stone, raised from the ground by pillars (pegollos in Asturian, esteos inGalician, abearriak in Basque) ending in flat staddle stones (vira-ratos in Galician, mueles ortornarratas in Asturian, or zubiluzea in Basque) to avoid the access of rodents. Ventilation is allowed by the slits in its walls. – Wikipedia.