Proceedings of the First International Congress on Construction History, Madrid, 20th-24th January 2003, ed. S. Huerta, Madrid: I. Juan de Herrera, SEdHC, ETSAM, A. E. Benvenuto, COAM, F. Dragados, 2003.

Typological study of the late medieval galician towers: Application to the restoration of the tower «Torre de Vilanova dos Infantes»

Manuel Freire Tellado

The intervention in values of cultural interest is a very contribute to new pieces for the creation of new delicate matter due to several reasons, as the cultural heritage. following ones: It seems logical that the project maker should look for all possible support to eliminate the major number - they are elements of great value of reference of uncertainties in his intervention, beyond the mere for the community where any action awakes an fulfillment of legal requirements. Within this extraordinary social sensitivity; philosophy the support of the historical analysis is as - the superposition of muItiple actions realized much a legal necessity as it is an instrument that will on them throughout the history-actions that achieve great value. have completely ignored the values of the Unfortunately the historical-artistic memories original construction distorting or, at least, compelled by the standard are usually reduced, changing them significantly, thus making the probably besause of the lack of understanding comprehension of the object inmensely between the historian and the architect, to an endless difficuIt; list of dates of outstanding local historie events - the time distance and the methods that served having some kind of connection with the building but to erect them, a distance that has not only without any relevant information about the structure affecte¡l the constructive techniques but also itself. The importance of chronological information the way of thinking: at present the actions are and historical evolution is not denied yet the necessity based upon a conception which is derived from of completing this information by a different one is the scientific method and the analysis of the emphasized: it means that the information to be problem by parts, whereas the historie obtained should have both vertical sense, i.e. time buildings have been constructed within an evolution, and horizontal sense, i.e. the events that integral mentality and not precisely a scientific take place in a coetaneous form, and above all dealing one. not so much with the happenings as with the building itself. So the information which is proposed as a At present the intervention is conceived with the relevant one is surely the historical and chronological following criteria: ditlerentiation --clear ditlerentiation updating, treating equally (or more) the history of of the limits between the intervention and the original building masonries, the events that have taken place building should be made; reversibility of the action- and al so the historic-typological study which means its possible elimination at any moment. The authors how the edification type of the building is resolved in not only want to maintain the patrimony but also to the time zone and geographical proximity. 924 M. Freire Tellado

In short, a double line of investigation of the . The tower of Vilanova dos Infantes is a history of the construction is realized: first as a medieval tower that formed a part of second line of building and second as a complex of edifications with fortifications of ancient frontiers with , their typology. The first enables to comprehend the named «raia-seca». At present it is classified as building, the second points out its peculiarities and heritage of cultural interest (ElC -Bien de Interes gives guides for the proposed interventions. Cultural). The previous reflections carne up during the The surroundings of Vilanova show traces of development of Centro Comarcal de project preroman human occupation since the time of celtic as a consequence of the first prize obtained at the (castreña) culture: Castromao, 2 km. from Vilanova, competition which had been summoned for that was a «castro» of Coelerinos occupied since cc. YI- V purpose. The above mentioned construction had to be B.e. until c. II A.D. Some authors emphasize the established as an ensemble of the tower and the two influence of this epoch and even speak about the houses near the medieval tower of Vilanova. «castreño» arrangement of the present hamlet in The difficulty of the process is manifested by the Vilanova. fact that in , which is considered to be a land The roman influence is manifested in an ancient of castles (more than 800 of them are classified), roman roadway that reaches the town from the east. there isn't any typological study on the castles In the town itself an ashlar stone of a house of Plaza referring to the mentioned time. That is why a Mayor is conserved -roman Ara V otiva dedicated to minimum classification is made. the gods Lares Gumelaecos. Its probable origin in the The environment of the study is restricted to those zone confirms a profound romanization of the place. defensive buildings among which one tower -Torre There is no information about the place from the del Homenaje, is the main motive of the edification. late roman time until the time of repopulation (La It is not a matter of great castles but a single tower Repoblación) after the expulsion of the muslims. isolated or defended by walls always being within the The X century is the most important historical criterion of fortification where the concept of period marked by the appearance of D. Gutier defensive levels is clearly defined, among which the Menéndez, the father of S. Rosendo, who in 936 tower (la Torre) is the last refuge. Towers that are establishes the benedictine monastery of S. Rosendo independent or pseudoindependent elements, of Celanova in whose masonry the dictates of the perfectly recognizable as objects in the edifications regulation of the religious order «Ora et labora» are whose mission is no longer to defend a town but a noticed. In this monastery in 944 S. Rosendo will personage who shelters in the Tower. retire for a period of time for a temporary rest from These defensive concepts can not iso late the his hard work. appearance of arquebuses and the first fire arrns, the fast Vilanova dos Infantes used to be a reliable development of which will during a century provoke residence for S. Rosendo's mother and sister -Da the radical transforrnation of the defensive systems and Ilduara and Da Adosinda respectively; and also for the dissappearance of the type under study. other women of the royal family who belonged to its The relative homogeneity that is perceived in the twin Santa Maria de Villar monastery founded in solutions of that time is linked with both the quality Vilanova by the year 940 by Da llduara and later of the type and the fact that those buildings frequently annexed by Celanova monastery. changed within the complex world of Reconquest, The transcendence of this zone in the Middle Ages succeeding fights, dislikes and confrontations leads to the idea that Alfonso X el Sabio was educated between the noblemen and the church of the early in the nearby castle of Maceda afterwards medieval Spain. establishing his court in at about 10 km. from Vilanova. Despite the closeness of Celanova monastery, THE HISTORY OF VILANOV A AND ITS TOWER Vilanova was independent of the ecclesiastic nobility and belonged to various lords who were ruling in the Vilanova is a little town of medieval layout situated name of the king. The count D Gutier Menéndez and very near to the liule town of Celanova, , Dallduara ordered to build the Vilanova castle Typological study of the late medieval galician towers 925

(Silveiro Cañada ed. 1974, vol 30, voz Vilanova das the century are planned for concrete points, for Infantas). In 1369 Enrique II El Bastardo captures the example the port defense of A Coruña (4). It doesn't castle of Vilanova from Fernando de Castro, the seem logical that already having systems of major count of Trastámara Lemos and and who was defensive efficiency a reconstruction of the old use made count by the king Pedro 1 de Castilla (Vazquez would be put up, taking into account the fact that it is [1972] 1990), to give it D. Juan Rodriguez de Biedma a boardering and conflictive zone and that the north of as a reward for his services in the struggle for the Portugal is strengthened by constructions of a new throne of Castilla against Pedro 1, among the so called stamp. As a constructive period appears in Celanova Mercedes Enriqueñas (Eguileta, 1994,514). around 1550, i.e. the construction of Claustro de las The family inherits the fortification from Processiones, that shows the economical power of the the Biedma family. The Castro family -the counts of time, the reconstruction in our opinion takes place Lemos, dissatisfied with this transfer conducted a between ]481 and 155O. lawsuit against the Monterrei family, but the sentence Subsequently, since the Desamortización de turned out advantageous for the latter. Mendizábal, the tower has been used as Town Hall The tower was destroyed in 1467 when it belonged (Casa Consistorial), which is proved by the date 1825 to the count Monterrei (Castillo, 1972, word which is engraved on the entrance doorhead. This «Villanueva de los Infantes»), as a consequence of usage will remain until january 1927 when the town the Irmandiños rebellion against the galician nobility. hall of Vilanova is taken over by the town hall of The destruction was complete according to the Celanova. And after its abandonement it is used as obtained reference. It was reconstructed between Court (Juzgado) unti11992-1993 when it is restored 1481 and the middle of XYII century as there is to be used by Municipal Music Band. evidence that the tower was again used by the year As for the hamlet of the town of Vilanova, it 1645 during the war between Spain and Portugal follows the barbican line. There are two main types of which led to the second and final independence of houses. The first, of better design an concerted Portugal. De Prado (1986) points out that the tower rubblework, corresponds to the old heraldry houses: was reformed in the XYII century by new defensive the arms of Limias, Cambas, Feixoós, Enríquez . . . concessions which degraded when the tower was are among there stones. The second type is used for abandoned. the construction of more popular houses. They consist Fariña Busto (Silveiro Cañada ed. 1974, vol. of two floors with the second one sometimes XVIII, voz Fortalezas) classifies it in the gothic overhanging, surrounded by wooden balconies of phase; while Basilio Cegarra (Begarra, 1995) places it precise design and generally with a direct access from between the cc. XY-XYI. In our opinion the tower the street by the exterior big flagstone stairs, while the belongs to the late medieval typology. We have taken ground floor is or has been used as a stable. into consideration the similarities with the fortifications of the epoch, which are obtained from the corresponding typological analysis: constructive THE HISTORY OF THE TOWER BUILDING features -stonecutter's marks, pointed arches in voids with big voussoirs- the principal balcony. By now the existing ensemble has been formed by Typologically they differ from the fortifications of two towers, one inside the other. The interior the previous epochs in the predominance ofthe tower, structure parallel to the walls of the visible tower is by and which could perhaps be linked with the new origin prior to the «irrnandiña» destruction (Eguileta, necessities and techniques that brought about the first 1994, 521). It extends up to a leve] which is inferior fire arms. The arquebus appears somewhere between to the present level of access. It forms a part of the cc. XIY -XV, but when these have not yet provoked primitive tower destroyed by the mentioned rebellion, the revolution of the fortifications that would linked without any doubt with the walls of the ancient originate later. castle of Vilanova, which had to be an exterior tower Moreover, already in the penultimate decade of the bastion, as it is demonstrated by alignment of its walls XVI century in Spain appear theoretical proposals of with the rests of the rampart lines as well as the fortifications with bastions that even before the end of greater thickness of one of its four walls, the 926 M. Freire Tellado

alignment with the ramparts, and the visible exterior reconstruction period of the Vilalba tower, about traces of the joint of the tower masonry with some 1480, and its connection with the Castro family (it transversal element. belonged to D. Fernando Ruiz de Castro) resulted in The tower which is visible nowdays is of a later its inclusion among the studied ones. period, as it is shown by the independence of the Later the investigation was systematized, covering exterior walls from the walls of the interior structure the principal medieval fortifications of Galicia, mentioned before. The lack of a bond between the putting an emphasis on those which are in the interior present tower walls and the rests of the transversal part of Galicia, linked with the four powerful walls as weJl as the difference of the composition of families: Biedma, Monterrei, Lemos and Andrade. A their masonries, i.e. concerted rubblework contrary to speciaJly detailed study was done on the fortifications the exterior squared ashlar masonry, and also corresponding to the terrestrial frontier with Portugal concrete constructive questions, i.e. the stonecutter's and belonging to the : the «raia- marks and pointed arches in voids with big voussoirs seca», i.e. fortifications of Sande, Vilanova, similar to that of the principal balcony, supposes its Milmanda, A , Monerrei, and on the second realization in the late medieval time, probably line -Sandiás, Ce]me and Pena. The election of the between 1481 and 1550. mentioned families is justified knowing that the first The tower undergoes a great transformation in the three ones had for a definite period of time the first quarter of the XIX century to adapt it to its new possession of the fortifications we are dealing with, use as Town Hall. Among the realized modifications while the family of Andrade is responsible for a (Eguileta, 1994, 529) are: the addition of the staircase significant number of defensive buildings in the north which at present serves as an entrance; the of the community, and the possession of many of substitution of the loopholes by large rectangular them passed from the family of Andrade to the family windows; and the entrance door aperture at the north of Lemos in such a way that an interaction among the eastern side (the year 1825 is engraved on the solutions referring to the fortifications is quite doorhead). The addition of the staircase would probable between the two families. conceal the traces of the junction of the rampart from The study was centred on the models of single this side, as it is precisely of the height where the towers. Meanwhi]e other important galician staircase reaches its maximum elevation at which the fortifications as the Castillos de Pambre y Sobroso linkage should be realized. These transformations deserved a more superficial attention centred on: the have irreversibly changed the image 01'the tower. finial systems, i.e. coblestone (continuous peen) over FinaJly, in the period of 1992-1993 the tower was brackets (stone corbels); the reinforcements on the conditioned for its use by the Municipal Music Band basis of fortification turrets in Sobroso and embattled eliminating the hip roof crowning it, by fixing a number finia]s over the corbels in Pambre. of horizontal levels, placing a staircase and an empty The analysis ofthe Monforte de Lemos tower, lightly vertical space that crosses all the /loors 01'the tower. restored in 1975, permitted to analyze the system of The preceding lines are the result of the support of embattled finial at the overhang over the stone corbels, the historical investigation of bui lding to understand the constructive meaning of the comprehensiveness but it turns out to be too little for continuous stone corbels 01' the last /loor prepared to the desired purposes. To accomplish it and to receive a wooden dormant that supported the wooden understand the constructive and design peculiarities of horizontal plane (forjado), and also to understand the the tower 01'Vilanova, the study of different examples unitary purpose of the space of each t100r for common of the surrounding medieval towers is brought up. use. So it can be seen how the changed disposition of Initially the study was centred on those examples horizontal plane (forjado) direction makes the stairs that resulted to be cJoser to the author who modify their position on the different t100rs. In this systematized them in a second phase. Thus, at first, tower the en trance is of middle height but an incorrect the towers of Monforte de Lemos and Castroverde, decision 01' attaching a stone staircase to it eliminates both being the possessions 01'the Castro family -the any perception of it as an entrance. counts 01'Lemos, were visited and analyzed being the However the dimensions of the tower of Lemos second ones in likeness with that 01' Vilanova. The give it such a splendour that the Vilanova tower Typological study of the late medieval galician towers 927 doesn't have and al so a number of constructive Later the finials of the fortress of Monterrei, a farnily features that differ them as for instance the presence to whom belonged the tower of Vilanova during the of a flat arch as a roof support or the configuration of reconstruction, were studied. Overhanging finials of a three dimensional battlement perhaps connected machicolation type, placed over the brackets and with the appearance of the arquebus. situated at a very httle distance of their border, were Therefore the study interest was focused on the found. The study of the Tower of Pontedeume that tower of Castroverde which by now has not yet been belonged to the Andrade family has given one more an object of restoration. It rises solely in the centre of example of a machicolation finial bent on its perimeter. a small defensive perimeter, undoubtedly of the This discovery made us consider the machicolation previous epoch, as it has certain formal likeness with finial as a widespread type since the examples are the solutions of the Castle of (also of situated in the north and in the south of Galicia. Lemos family) as well as with the reinforcement The visit to the Andrade family Castle in system with fortification turrets. The tower is very Cabañas, also known as the Castle de Nogueirosa, similar to that of Vilanova both in form and showed the application of many of the studied dimensions. The entrance is realized by means of an solutions. The castle belongs to a mixed typology opening of middle height configured by a doorhead with a dominant tower that from a distance gives that lies on overhanging corbels over the bay. the impression of an isolated tower. When getting Fortunately the absence of restoration permitted to closer the facades that delimit the castle are better appreciate the interior empty space of the tower after seen at a closer perspecti ve. The en trance to the climbing about 3,5 m which, as a solution of purely tower is situated at a level a little higher than the defensive character, now separetes the access from one that unites the ramparts with it. The shape of the ground leve!. In this case the corbels for the en trance void is similar to that of Vilanova. supporting the dormants which would bear the Moreover it presents a machicolation finial over horizontal planes (forjados) of the intermediate floors brackets with the peen located a little backwards are discontinuous. Besides, the solution of battlement from the brackets, In the interior the tower has got is much simpler than that of Monforte with merlons a vault as a covering reinforced, in this case, by of much less thickness, i.e. the plane predominates, ribbed arches, while it isn't presented in Monforte. and although it is arranged on the basis of brackets, it The horizontaJ planes (forjados) are plywooded presents a continuous separation between the tower over the continuous stone corbells to recei ve the and the battlement perimeters, while in Monforte only wooden dormants. empty voids are produced between the merlons. After having realized these first studies the These same characteristics (separation between characteristics were systematized to compare them perimeters and merlons of relatively httle thickness with those of many other fortifications and with a predominance of the plane sensation over the summarized in the following compendium. three dimensional one) exist in the Tower of Vilalba which is also single and has an entrance of middle height. The modifications introduced in the conversion DESCRIPTlON OF THE TVPE of the tower in have permitted to extract much minor doctrines. Moreover the octogonal form of its The study and the comparison of different tower leads to the disposition of two ribbed arches for fortifications have tried to formulate the building type the bundle. The finial is in this way embattled. by summing up the following characteristics:

-Location: -isolated (Doncos), (Doncos, Celas, Pontedeume -independent in an ensemble -top tloor: (Monforte, Castro verde ), -from the ground (Monforte, -linked with an ensemble Castroverde ), (Pontedeume, Nogueirosa), -from another building: -integrated in an ensemb1e -ramparts (Nogueirosa, (Monterrei, Pambre); Narahio, Doiras), -Access tO: -ground floor-secondary access -palace (Pontedeume); 928 M. Freire Tellado

-Floor: -rectangular (the great -Character: -Defensive (the majority), majority), -Palace type; -other: -octogonal (Vilalba), -Crown finials: -Embattled: -circular (Sarria); -by placement: -overhanging over the -Vertical section: -straight (Monforte, Vilalba), brackets (Vilalba), -stepped-with Berms -levelled (Castro de Ouro, (Pontedeume ); Doncos, Doiras, Miraz, -Number of superior Narla), floors/access: -three (the majority), -by the form: -other (A Porqueira, 4); -pointed (Narla Vimianzo, Miraz), - The use of the ground -rectangular (lhe 1100r/access: -pool (Monforte), majority), -prison (Pontedeume, ), -by the type: -former building (Vilanova), -three dimensional -secret exit, tunnel (Narabio), (Monforte, Narla, --excavated basements Doncos); Doiras), -plane (Andrade, -Masonries: -ashlar of granite (Narahio, Castroverde ); Monforte, Parga, Friol Narla, -Machicolation: Pambre), -levelled (Xunqueira, Castro -rubblework: Caldelas), -granite with ashlar -overhanging over the reinforcements brackets (Monterrei), (Nogueirosa), -With reinforcements: -sI ate with granite ashlar -fortification turrets (Vilalba, Doncos, do (Monterrei, Castro Bolo), Caldelas), -rubblework: -bent machicolation -granite (Miraz, ), (Pontedeume ), -slate (Burón, Doncos, --{;ircular machicolation Doiras, Navia de Suarna); (Pontedeume Vilamarin), -With loopholes (Vilalba, -Horizontal planes Castro Caldelas), (forjados): -AIl wooden (the majority), -Without loopholes (the supports over: majority); -stone corbels: -Voids: --{;ontinuous (Vilanova), -Large windows: -unitary (Castroverde), -rectangular, -arched, -embedded beams, -Vaulted: -geminated, -Loopholes (saeteras), -roof (Torre de Andrade, Caldaloba), -Loopholes (aspilleras); -basement (O Bolo), -Water discharge: -Gorgoile, -roof and basement -On a level; (Monforte); -Peculiar elements: --Coat of arms (Pontedeume, -Stairs: -In the space of the 110or, Narla), -Integrated in the walls -Sculptures (Vilalba), partially or completely - Toilets (Castroverde, Penas), (Nogueirosa, superior level --Chimneys (Monforte, Vilalba, in Monforte); Nogueirosa, Penas), Typological study of the late medieval galician towers 929

With the help of this classification we briefly of which its image is changed too describe the towers which are situated near the tower much in respect with what it was in the under restoration beliving that their phisical MiddJe Ages. Integrated fortress, two characteristics would be more similar to the tower of outstanding medieval towers: the Torre Vilanova than to the others situated at a greater de las Damas and the Torre de geographical distance. Homenaje, both of them of square floor, straight crass section, granite Sande: Isolated on a rack. Granite ashlar. ashlar with few Jarge windows. The Rectangular t100r and straight crass Torre de las Damas has got rests of section. In ruins but not destrayed by attached edifications. It is finished with «irmandiños» . overhanging even machicolation over brackets. The Torre de Homenaje is Sandiás: Isolated on a rack. Granite ashlar. isoJated, with an entrance at a certain Rectangular t100r and straight cross height reachabJe by a staircase lifted section. Three floors and a basement. manuaJly fram the ramparts. Finished Horizontal wooden planes (forjados) by overhanging machicoJation over the over isolated corbels. Superior brackets, reinforced by fortification brackets in corners and central part of turrets in the corners and in the centre each face. OnJy 100pholes. Destrayed of the faces. by «irmandiños», at present exists half of the tower. Having reaJized this characterization of the type, Xinzo: Rock. In the interior of a precinct with that we can call a horizontaJ study in the time, other attaching constructions. Rectangular possibJe aJterations and peculiarities of the tower of floor and straight cross section, of Vilanova may be supposed as a consequence of it: ash]ar granite and a very enclosed appearance -only JoophoJes, with - modification of the roof Jevel: according to the vaulted flats and a basement thought comparative studies it would lie upon a for a pool. Lack of superior finial, but wooden dormant supported by a stone overhanging brackets over the continuous corbels of the Jast floor, with the perimeter are conserved. destruction of the finiaJ system of the tower; - modification of the access system with the Celme: RubbJework of granite. Rests of newly added door: the typological study led us overhangimg brackets. to the hypothesis of the system of access to the tower from the perimetric fa<,:ades Jike in Milmanda: Castle in which there are no ruins of Monterrei or Nogueirosa. The presence of stone the Torre de Homenaje. corbels that surround the zone of the arched baJcony of the same height, as the rampart A Porqueira: IsoJated, of rectangular floor and of could have, together with what seems to be the straight crass section. Granite ashJar trace of an ancient staircase between these with rectangular voids, very narrow but levels and what the lichen shows make us bigger than the JoophoJes. Access at a suspect that a system of access fram the fa<,:ades certain height. Four floors above the of the perimetric ramparts existed. However the access including it. Perimetric brackets scarcity of certain data and the great importance over which rests of machicoJation are of the suffered aJterations make us banish any observed. According to ¡he historians it temptation of reconstruction; has maintained its original structure. - the staircase intraduced during the 1992-1993 restoration does not seem to correspond to the Monterrei: Was adapting its systems with the historical situation of these buildings, since the evolution of war techniques, because horizontal planes (forjados) were plywooding 930 M. Freire Tellado

their arrangement on different floors with the The adequation of the introduced usages and the purpose of providing major rigidity to the characteristics of the edification that supports them is ensemble and uniformizing the load that imposed: the basic definition of the types of the action different walls were transmitting to the laying object -load structural walls, horizontal planes of foundations; (forjados) and voids, which are carefully maintained - the horizontal levels defined during the same and restored. Thus the spaces are defined and restoration bring up doubts about the interpreted as containers in which the different usages successfulness of its situation since there are are deposited carefully. traces in the masonries of other levels; It has seemed to be appropriate to establish a - referring to the same restoration, there are other correspondence between the tripartite character of the disputable interventions: the opening of the program and three differentiated fields of the vertical space that covers all the t100rs of the preexistences -superior t1oor, ground t100r and tower which is totally strange for this type of tower (Figure 1) in such a way that each part of the edification, the introduction of elements of program is developed in one of them. The new vertical partitioning that does not permit a necessary partitons are arranged as if fumiture is common space for each t100r of the tower as being treated, avoiding the contact between the well as the arrangement of a false ceiling that additions and the existing walls, every moment cuts the interior flarings of the voids. evaluating the contrast of material s techniques and thicknesses, contrast that leads to the limits using dry However the adopted philosopy -not to den y the construction techniques. course of the history, and the little importance of the When dealing with three independent elements, intervention lead us to propose tiny actions that will their relation to the consecutive presentation of their reduce the observed defects. accesses is committed: the ancient houses with an access from the square support the more traditional use -the restoration; the access to the Centro DESCRIPTlON AND JUSTlFICATlON OF INTERVENTlON Comarcal- the modem usage, is realized by an added element which is a reinterpretation of the Acting in the historie al area is always a problematic «patines del pueblo». The presentation of the accesses matter. The following aspects are summed up to the to the tower culminates as an emblematic element. difficulties of any construction project itself: the The three historical buildings have conserved their undeniable presence of the history condensed in the old accesses as much as possible adjusting stones of the place imposing some especially strict themselves to permit the functioning of the three big rules, the dysfunctions produced by the history for parts that form the program -cafetería, expositon contemporary use when the formalization process and offices, facilitating its autonomous use. owes to past circumstances that legates its phisical The segregation between the top and ground tloors configuration, the necessity not to renounce the of the building takes into account analyzed building condition of contemporaneity that any piece of typology, with the ground and top t100rs of very Architecture demands. One should not forget either different meanings and uses. The modification is the social sensitivity that an intervention awakes. expressed in a roof that integrates the two houses in The intervention has been undertaken since the only one three dimentional space, facilitating its theory of the strata: each historical moment, as it would unity. For that reason the elevation of the comise refer to geological times, superposes its action on the height of the two houses is to be accepted to define a city and the building depositing itself over the unique line that will be resolved by an entrance of a precedents without interlering with them and at the filtered light: a shade in the elevation. The same time being a visible element in the whole intervention pretends to use material s that in the local ensemble. In thís sensc the intervention deposits over construction experjence have been proved to be valid: the town as it were a carpet and like modem fumiture in the tile on the roofs. the local traditon of construction the buildings. The reversibility of the action is a in wood, stone, glass and of course the magnificent prerequisite feature ofthe intervention in the patrimony. use of the metalic fa¡;ades within the trame of the .. Typo1ogical study of the 1ate me dicva1 gahcJan towers 931

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Figure 1 . . Centro Comarca I «Terras de Celanova». 1ntervention t1oor. Execu ted proposa!. Frelfe, Vazquez and MacIas - ,h,""h;'~" 932 M. Freire Tellado popular tradition that can be enjoyed when walking in the crowning elements and the perimetric walk the town. together with the merlons, or the functioning of the The urbanization is conceived as a carpet extended old access. over the place. A flagstone pavement reminds the That is why one of the first adopted decisions was layout of the rampart of the town. The whole to reconstruct the roof. Given the fact of the closeness urbanization is created from this element and the between Vilanova and the fortification of Monterrei, definition of the historical environments: local also the fact of Vilanova belonging to this family at pebbles among the strips of granite flagstones show the time of the possible reconstruction and the date that formerly it was a yard of arms with the rocky corresponding to it, the finial crown adopted in the outcrops integrating into the pavement; a paving of project is 01' the machicolation type. For the clear granite pieces of 6 x 6 covers the old access to the differentiation of the original from the not original tower which tangetially passes defining independent, one, it was decided to build it 01' wooden elements. adjacent spaces: the storehouse space, the space of Besides, considering the stability 01'the stone corbels access to the Centre, the bastion space. In this space uncertain, it was decided to use an auxiliary metalic succession we try to facilitate the organization of structure to guarantee the structural security. In this open-air sculpture expositions. For this purpose some way the reversibility is entirely assured, the top can embedded ilumination points are installed by be easily eliminated, a produced popular response inserting them in the pavement or in other elements taken as a prerequisite condition, as well as the permitting a minimum illumination, two more double reference to the origines 01'the wooden fortifications, points are added that will illuminate the volume of the at the time when the continuous finial floating over tower diagonally configuring it also as a nocturnal the bracket is obtained. reference. In none 01' the analyzed towers a setback that appears in Vilanova is observed. Its uniqueness together with: the study of the bibliography, the INTERVENTION PROPOSALS BASED ON THE importance ofthe interior tower, amputated wall scars TYPOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF THE LATE MEDIEVAL that are observed on the west fayade, (a scar that TOWERS possibly exists though hidden on the west side, because oí' the addition oí' the staircase in the 19th The actions in the tower are planned in the light of the century) the stone corbels of middle height in its historical memory and the realized typological perimeter focused the study interest upon the towers investigations. InitiaJly it is assumed that the linked with defensive precincts conformed a mixed historical flux is a fact, without denying the dií'ferent image between the Castle and the single tower. transformations that history has introduced in the From this kind of studies carne up a suspicion (for building, adapting this to the new requirements, that us a conviction) that, given the fact that the tower are now demanded, meanwhile the deí'ects that belonged to a í'ortified ensemble as the archeological complicate the comprehension of the building and investigations show, the entrance to the tower was make the other characteristics that could remain realized by ascending from the rampart to a superior unnoticed by the visitor, are corrected. From this level that was reached by means 01'exterior perimetric point of view, the interventions that have been stairs, supported by stone corbels that are still visible, realiazed in the last century are assumed to be similar to the access 01' D. Sancho de Monterrei. The unsuccessful but our intention is not a historical fact that the present entrance to the tower was built in retrospective. Our purpose is surely to recuperate XIX century (according to the archeological signes oí' the Jost identity, as í'or example the excavations data) corroborates this suppositions. belonging of the tower to a fortified ensemble However, the present attitude not to negate the revealing the castle rampart layout on the different transformations that the buildings have urbanization pavement, the ruins oí' the tower undergone throughout the history, like the lack 01' destroyed by the «irmandiños», the layout of which is more data and the complete disappearance of the seen on the pavement oí' the access floor. Another fayades 01' the ramparts which would support the purpose is to recuperate í'ortress data reintroducing access, have led to discarding a decisive action upon Typological study of the late medieval galician towers 933 the subject, limiting the intervention, lightly marking this possibility together with balcony protection design blocked up at the front and swooping at the sides where the rampart walk would pass. The studies done during the realization of the project and the course of the work permitted to ascertain the Vil ano va ramparts and to match the layout supposed by Eguileta(l994) and to nominate two towers of the town defensive system, one of which was found in the interior of the rehabilitated houses, Figure 2. The project includes the layout of the ramparts by placing a pavement where a wall is supposed to have been. Besides the disposition of a row of relocated willows of the square, pretends to delimit the space proportioning a scale similar to that of the arms yard, the perception of which is strengthened by partially p]acing a pebble pavement. The same didactic spirit with which the exterior intervention faces up is maintained in the interior. Thus the recuperation of the ruins of the ancient tower is undertaken. Its interior is made accessible by Figure 2 means of one- t1ight staircase of the type detected in Fortifications ground in the proximity of the Tower of Yilanova the studies. While its plan of the ground floor differs by a granite paving, teak wood is used for the rest of the floor. The previous intervention impeded the perception the covering. lts position, which is not connected with of a unique space for each of the tower floor by it, indicates an itervention of probably the past placing an acid treated glass screen that c]osed a century that has drastically modified the levels of the number of hall s on each floor; by attaching tower. One of the corbels is interrupted by a vertica] installations to the tower walls and damaging them by void which, judging by its fitting, was created later the connection tubes sistem and hiding the than the building of the tower. The impossibility of configuration of the voids by false ceilings which correcting the ]evels, because of the lack of data, leads impeded to see its constructive resolution. It was to accepting them and giving a solution -illumination decided to eliminate all these interventions by placing of the stone corbels hidden by some boards that the installation on the t100r and on the ceilings, pretends to remind the meaning of those corbels. substituting the false ceilings and dismounting the Finally the slate soldier, extraneous to the place, glass screens to amplify the unitary character of the was removed to realize an in verted roof with a floor. The position of the two horisontal planes finishing of local granite tiles. (forjados) placed in the previous intervention has be en preserved, as well as the layout of the staircase, and as we are not sure about its correspondence to the NOTES original one and we ha ve not got enough data for a reliable action to give it an image more appropriate to 1. At present there is the book of Yarela (1999), with a the original building, a facing of dark wood has been minimum fotographic report and a brief commentary about numerous galician towers, that can serve as a used. basis of support for the project maker. In the superior ]evel under the covering, two At the national level, Sotelo (1999) has six galician continuous stone corbels can be observed, the mission castles. of which is the previously mentioned one, i.e. to 2. The rebellion of the «irmandiños» (hermandinos in support a horizontal plane (forjado), possibly that of spanish) was a tum against the knights and the lords of the 934 M. Freire Tellado

Galician Kingdom as a consequence of the abuse of the Castillo, Angel del. 1972. Inventario de la Riqueza Artística latter that took place during 1466-69. See for examp1e y Monumental de Galicia. Ed Bibliofilos Gallegos. ,ármandiijos» in Silveiro Cañada ed. 1974 vol. XVIlI. de Compostela. Photostatic reprint, foundation 3. As a proof there is a document of March 2, 1481 in of Pedro Barrié de la Maza. A Coruña, 1987. which the abbot of Celanova sanctions those who wcre Egui1eta Franco, J.M. 1994. Archeological explorations in guilty of the destruction (Eguileta 1994, 514). the Tower of Vilanova, Ce1anova, Orense. Memoria de la Anno de mill e quatro~cntos e oytenta e un anos, dous intervención de urgencia. Revista Gallaecia 14- J5. dias do mes de mar~o en Celanova ( ... ) diso ( ... ) Facultad de geografla e Historía. Universidad de que o dito señor abade lles fazera pagar ~ento e vinte Santiago de Compostela, pp. 510-550. maravedis a cada un pera torre de Villanova que De Prado Arias, X. L. Lopez, coord., 1986. Orense: Guia derri bou a Y rmandade. Monumental. Excma. Diputación Provincial de Oren se. 4. Cristobal de Rojas introduces the ncw solutions in the Ed. Evergráficsa S.A. León. «Teoria y practica de la fortificación», 1582. From 1587 Silveiro Cañada ed. 1974 Ramón Otero Pedrayo, director. starts thc construction of the castles of San Felipe and of Gran Enciclopedia Gallega. Santiago de Composte]a. San Anton in the port of A Coruña according to the new Sora1uce B]ond, José Ramón 1981. La Arquitectura militar mcthods (Varela 1999). The previous author rea]izes the en Ga/icia en la Edad Moderna. Siglos XVI-XVIII. Tesis fortification of the Ciudadela de Cadiz in 1598 Doctoral. (Soraluce, 1981). Sote]o, Vicente 1999. Castillos de España. Vol. 1. Agua]arga Editores. Madrid. Varela, Paz. 1999. Castillos y Fortificaciones de Galicia. REFERENCE LIST Editorial Nigratrea S. L. . Vázquez Germán. (1972) ]990. Historia de Monforte y su Begarra, Basi]io. 1995. Atlas de arte de Galicia. Ed. Nigra. tierra de Lemos. Ed. Evergráficsa S. A. León. Vigo.