THE INDIANO HERITAGE
EMIGRATION FROM THE FERROL AREA TO THE AMERICAS
Emigration is one of the phenomena that can most explain the contemporary history of Galicia and a key part of that chapter is from 1853, when a Royal Decree of September 16th legally authorized the departure of emigrants to overseas territories. The highest recipient countries were Argentina, Cuba and Uruguay and, to a lesser extent, the USA. One of the consequences of this diaspora that endured, with some variations, until the economic crisis of 1929 and due to the serious effects of the American economic implosion, was the decisive impact by returning emigrants on architecture in Galicia: the socalled INDIANO ARCHITECTURE. An “Indiano” was an emigrant who returned to Galicia after prospering financially in the Americas.
Located in rural areas and located chronologically in the first thirty years of the 20th century, Indiano architecture combines indigenous elements with other international trends such as historicism, modernism, eclecticism and rationalism. It also employed new building materials such as cast iron, cement, flat tile, zinc sheets, stuccoes, polychrome glass, ceramics, tiles and the inclusion of a garden with exotic tree species, such as araucaria, palm trees, magnolia and the yew.
It was present throughout all the Ferrol region and especially in the Bezoucos Peninsula. It was an expression of the fortunes acquired in America in the form of buildings constructed in the indianos’ home vi- llages. It is visible in the numerous schools established by the Educational Societies and by distinguished indianos from Cuba and Argentina. It can be seen in the civil architecture of leisure, such as cinemas, clubs and dance halls. Due to the secular outlook often acquired by the indianos overseas, their impact on religious architecture is less notable, although there are examples, including those related to burial.
This Indiano architectural repertoire listed below represents a striking aspect of the identity and historical heritage of Fene, Mugardos, Ares and Cabanas, and includes other valuable examples in the Ferrol- Rías Altas region geodestination.
POINTS OF INTEREST
OF THE INDIANO ROUTE
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