Pallozas were traditionally built using stone walls and rye-straw roofs to withstand heavy snow and high winds in the Ancares range.
The interior design reflects a communal living style where humans occupied the raised side and cattle occupied the lower section to provide heat.
The lack of internal partitions served as a survival mechanism, ensuring the warmth from the hearth and the animals was shared throughout the entire structure.
The village of Piornedo, where the museum stands, is situated at an elevation of approximately 1,200 meters above sea level.
Casa do Sesto has been restored to maintain the traditional building techniques that have remained largely unchanged since the Iron Age.
Palloza Museo Casa do Sesto is a restored traditional palloza, a prehistoric-style circular stone dwelling with a thatched roof characteristic of the Ancares mountain region. The museum preserves the original interior layout, demonstrating how families lived alongside their livestock in a shared, single-room space. Constructed without a chimney, the building features a unique ventilation system where smoke from the central hearth filters out through the thatched roof. The structure showcases authentic 19th-century domestic tools, agricultural implements, and period furniture. Located in the high-altitude village of Piornedo, it represents a centuries-old architectural tradition preserved by the local community. It is one of the few pallozas maintained as an ethnographic museum to document rural life in the Galician mountains.
The exterior approach, which allows you to frame the circular roof against the backdrop of the Ancares mountain peaks.
Wear sturdy walking shoes with good grip, as the village paths are steep and can be uneven.
Dress in layers regardless of the season, as mountain temperatures in the Ancares fluctuate rapidly.
Combine your visit with a short hike to the surrounding mountain lookouts for views of the Piornedo valley.
Do not attempt to visit in a standard sedan during heavy winter snowfalls, as the mountain roads can become impassable without local expertise or proper vehicle equipment.
Often closed or limited in schedule during the winter months due to extreme weather conditions in the mountains.
Respect the physical artifacts; avoid touching the thatched walls or internal furniture as the materials are fragile and historical.
