Capileira is located at the foot of the Mulhacén, reaching the ravine of the Poqueira River. Looking to the south, its winding and disorderly streets form a mass of white that contrasts the greenness of the slopes.
The house does not follow any organized arrangement; to the contrary, it adapts to the nuances of the slanting terrain. The houses blend into one another, they are white, with wide stone and mortar walls that support thick wooden beams. They have small openings through which, with great difficulty, light peaks in. They normally have two floors, the lower level being the one dedicated to storage.
© Photographs |
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Snowfall of February 2005. By Juana Alonso |
The
rooves, which are called
“terraos” are flat, without tiles, supported by the beams on which slabs of slate rest. On top of these, a thick layer of crushed slate extends, waterproofing the building. On the rooves, which can normally be reached from the inside of the house, various activities are carried out, like the hanging the laundry out to dry, the drying of fruits, or simply sunbathing.