Eira do Tapado

Category: Civil Architecture > Threshing Floor

District: Viana do Castelo > Ponte da Barca > Lindoso > Parada

Location

Eira do Tapado is located in Parada, an area belonging to the locality of Lindoso, integrated within the municipality of Ponte da Barca, in the district of Viana do Castelo. This place, which serves as a sort of entrance to the Parada area, is situated in a position that benefits from ample sun exposure and good air circulation. Its layout offers an open panorama of the rural surroundings.

A Legacy of Community Agriculture

This space was, in its time, a communal threshing floor (eira comunitária), a central point for agricultural activities shared by the population. Dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, the elements present here are a living testament to the practices and rural life of the past. Eira do Tapado evokes a past where working the land shaped daily life and where the community collaborated in tasks essential for their subsistence.

The Ensemble of Granite Granaries

At Eira do Tapado stands a remarkable ensemble of granaries (espigueiros). These constructions, made entirely of granite, were designed with a practical function: to store cereals and protect them from humidity and pests. Their number amounts to about fifty to sixty units, forming an impressive cluster. Their constructive form is characterized by a rectangular layout and walls with slits, designed to ensure the necessary ventilation for the grains. The granaries are arranged in an organized manner around the central threshing floor, and their state of conservation is remarkable, allowing for a clear observation of the robustness and intelligence of traditional architecture.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt