Troglodyte Living in Andalucia

The above picture is of one of several Cave-Shops in Purullena selling a huge range of pottery items at great low prices, and 'Yes', we were tempted into buying a couple of items to bring home with us and remind us of a fabulous holiday!

Here's a bit more about our recent very enjoyable holiday in a cave-house in Bacor, Andalucia, the above picture being of the Cave Houses on the outskirts of the Cathedral town of Guadix, where we spent an enjoyable time looking around the town and the Cathedral.

We also visited the small village/town of Purullena, which was only a relatively short distance from Bacor. Whilst there we went to the Cave-House Museum which was well worthwhile. Here we learned about the manner in which these homes are fashioned out of the mountains. Here are the facts as presented by the Museum:

• The temperature inside the cave varies between 17 and 21Celsius throughout the year, meaning that it feels cool in summer and warm in winter. This makes it very comfortable to live in a cave.
• The Purullena caves date from Arabic origin. Thirty years ago everybody in the town lived in caves, and even in 2010 there are still about 40% of the population who choose to live in a cave-house rather than a more conventional home. This is why Purullena is known as the Troglodyte City.
• The cave-houses are dug out of the mountains. No construction materials are used, and they are painted inside with white chalk, a natural paint which is porous and allows the air to circulate, preventing humidity in the cave.
• Rather than doors in the cave, curtains separate the rooms in order to allow a free passage of air to circulate. There are also chimneys which increase the air circulation.
• The ceilings are dome-shaped to avoid the risk of collapse, and also to distribute the weight towards the thick outer walls. The walls have to be very thick in order to support the massive pressure of the hillside.
• The material from which the caves are made is arcilla, which is a special clay. It is a very compact yet soft soil, making it very easy to dig. It's also an impermeable soil which stops the rain from entering the cave.