Indian architecture in Cabanas

The Indian architecture route connects the municipalities of Fene, Mugardos, Ares and Cabanas, being a testimony of the legacy of Galician emigration to America.

This architectural style, developed between the end of the 19th and early twentieth centuries, reflects the influence of the Returned Indians and emigrants, who embodied in their buildings a fusion between the local tradition and international currents.

Each facade, each balcony and every ornamental detail reflect a piece of that transoceanic trip, where cast iron, colorful stucco and polychrome glass brought with them an air of prosperity. & Nbsp;

In Cabanas you can find five outstanding examples of Indian architecture:

• Vila Fraián (1920, Porto) – Eclectic style
• Vista Alegre (1948, Porto) – Eclectic style
• Chalé Areal (1930-1934, Cabanas) – Regionalist style
• Vila da Pena (1912, Irís) – Eclectic style
• Escola Laica (1921, Porto) – Eclectic style

As of 1853, Galician emigration to America originated the birth of Indian architecture, leaving a deep mark on the architectural heritage of the region.

The constructions are the reflection of the economic success and nostalgia of the returned emigrants, and combine traditional elements with influences of historicism, modernism, eclecticism and rationalism. & NBSP;

Present in family homes, schools promoted by instructional societies and leisure spaces such as cinemas and casinos, this architecture is a testimony of the social and cultural transformation promoted by the diaspora. The route is public, but the buildings are privately owned, so although they are not visitable, they can be admired from the outside.