When you go up to the Torre on the hill above Granollers you can really see how the town lies in a valley surrounded by mountains. It is a wonderful view and all the high flats, the industrial buildings, the ugly corners become insignificant as your eye is drawn to the outlines of the hills and the expanse of sky.
The torre is old – officially 14th century but some believe it is much older perhaps dating back to the Romans. It is derelict and the council have erected a pathetic little fence around it to ‘stop’ you going in. At some point they have made an attempt to strengthen the walls with some modern bricks. But they have never accepted their responsibility to preserve and protect this ancient monument. Perhaps that is for the best as so often preservation turns into domination and control
The part of the vaulted ceiling that remains is beautiful. A work of art. The Torre was probably part of a network of towers used for communication from one settlement to the next. Some researchers believe that light signals were used to pass messages across the countryside.
You can see why it was built here as you have an all round view
In one direction lies Granollers and the spreading urban world. Turn around and you can see little vegetable plots and olive trees. Turn further and there is another expanse of green field behind which is another industrial estate. But for now it is hidden, invisible and doesn’t exist.
Only the swifts and the poppies and the sky and the hills
And the sunset
Hi Kate, I have been so crazy busy, or maybe just crazy, I’m not sure! Anyway I haven’t had much time for blogging but things have calmed down so it is great to be able to come back and read about your lovely town. The torre is really cool, I always wonder what the energy is like around such ancient structures. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a kind comment. Susan
That looks like dog country!
Dogs and people paradise!
Only a little comment about the Torres. Some of them are beside Íbers towns in the top of the hills. Afterwards the Romans re-used some of these places and built some big towers to control the Via Augusta, and I suppose others Vias. After in the 8th century the Muslims built a lot of towers to creates a communication way, to defense them positions in the continuos wars. Then in the middle ages, some of them were used to protect the cities. And in XIX these towers were used for the military òptical thelegraph. During the spanish civil war (1936-39) there were very dammaged. In our days, some of them are re-built and possible to visit like tourist places.
In 2008 and 2009 Llançadora organized an intercultural party, la FESTORRA DE PINÓS, for the recuperation of this privilegied place in the Vallès. We made also a Film called “TALAIES, EL TRESOR DE LES TORRES” where we talk about this theme.
XXXX
🙂 Thanks Pep!
Lovely post Kate. Lovely photos.
I didn’t know about the Via Augusta – another thing to research!
thanks for lovely comments everyone. And also to those shy people who write to me privately!!! Really nice to have you here
love Kate x