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In this series of photographs I show in La Vanguardia’s Readers’ Photos the entrance to the Cal Renda farmhouse, in Bellver de Cerdanya, of extraordinary beauty due to its care and magnificent good taste.
Farmhouses are widespread throughout Catalonia and are abundant in the towns of the Pyrenees. Many have been transformed into houses adapted for rural tourism and hospitality.
This type of construction has its origins in ancient Roman villas. They are normally isolated, linked to a family-type agricultural and livestock farm. In the background of these images, in which we can admire the bales of hay perfectly aligned in the farmhouse, the bell tower of the Talló church stands out, popularly known as the Cerdanya Cathedral.
The church of Santa Maria de Talló, on the left bank of the Segre river, was formerly called Santa María Cabanaria, probably because of the numerous shepherds’ huts that were around. This temple (and sanctuary) was declared an asset of cultural interest in 1993.
The apse, from the 11th century, is decorated with Lombard arches and the bell tower is from the 17th century. Inside, the image of the Virgen del Talló, from the 13th century, is venerated.
