Pazo

Similar to a manor house, pazos are usually located in the countryside, as former residences of important people in the community (formerly of kings and nobility).

They were of crucial importance in the 17th to 19th centuries, related to rural and monastic architecture and the system of feudal organization, and they constituted a type of local management unit around which the life of the villagers revolved.

Over time they become the social symbol and refuge of the noble class, which Otero Pedrayo portrayed in his novels in early 20th century.

A pazo usually consists of a main building surrounded by gardens, a dovecote and often include outbuildings such as small chapels for religious celebrations.

In this regard, the Paço Imperial in Rio de Janeiro, built in the 18th century, is an example of the Portuguese counterpart of this type of building.