This visual essay looks into a typology of granaries that is common in Northern Spain: the Hórreo. It describes their genealogy, structural components, and current use in the Spanish province of Asturias. The essay seeks to give attention not only to their agricultural use but also to their striking visual appearance and its integration within the Asturian Landscape. It argues, following the words of archaeologist Richard Bradley, that the Hórreos have a monumental presence; as an offspring of prehistoric temples—where food surplus was divided by the priests—they are a relic of a time when agricultural production was ritualised, and are thus a reminder of the blurred distinction between the sacred and profane.
Cover image: Northern Spain: the Hórreo - photo by Gili Merin