A pre-ruined house
In the quiet village of Águas Frias, located in the hills of Chaves, Portugal, stands a rural house that has witnessed the ups and downs of a farming family over the generations. This house, once a symbol of prosperity and family life, is now in ruins, with obvious signs of a glorious past that has disappeared over time.
Its wooden porch, once a meeting point for telling stories and sharing emotions, is now marked by the wear and tear of time. The handcrafted carvings, which once beautified the structure, are now erased by time and neglect. The wood, once robust and imposing, is pitted and tilted, a victim of the corrosive action of the climate and the relentless passage of years.
However, despite its current decay, the balcony still retains traces of the past. On the worn boards, you can see marks from the many chairs that were dragged there over the decades. The holes in the wood tell stories of nails that held up seasonal decorations and family photos, now faded by the sun.
In the present, the rural house is empty and abandoned, its weathered stone walls, its broken windows testify to abandonment and neglect. The surrounding fields are empty, devoid of the agricultural activity that once animated them.
Times have changed, and the family that once called this house home is now scattered, seeking opportunities beyond the village's borders. What remains are nostalgic memories and a crumbling porch, whose weathered beauty still tells the story of a life lived in harmony with the earth and the seasons.
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 Text &amp; Photography: ©MárioSilva
casa ruínas rural varanda águasfrias aldeia chaves trásosmontes portugal ilustrarportugal madeinportugal máriosilva fotografias fevereiro 2024