The dovecote

On the hill overlooking the schoolyard valley, which runs down to the river, stands the granite dovecote, rising majestically against the evening sky. It was lovingly constructed. Inside is a latticework of small booths, made by leaving out every other brick to create a beautiful checkered pattern. It is quiet and empty today except for the wild forktailed housemartins, which have made their nests there. The whole tower, even down to the massive granite feeding-table in the centre, was built from the same slabs used to make the lagares in the winery down by the river.