The goat tower at the Guedes family estate, according to Francisco Guedes Almeida, a member of the 13th generation of owners, is best described as an "artistic daydream with no functional explanation." It is one of several unique structures on the property, known as follies, built by various ancestors over generations.
The History and Inspiration Behind the Structure
The existence of this particular goat tower is tied to the history and eccentricities of the Guedes family who own the winery where it is located. Unlike typical animal enclosures or farm buildings designed for efficiency, the goat tower serves a purely aesthetic or perhaps whimsical purpose.
Based on the insights from Francisco Guedes Almeida:
- Artistic Vision: The tower, along with other follies on the estate, was created out of artistic impulse or imagination rather than practical necessity.
- Lack of Function: It explicitly has "no functional explanation." This means it wasn't built to improve goat health, milk production, or ease of management in a conventional farming sense.
- Ancestral Legacy: The various follies, including the goat tower, are the cumulative result of building projects by different ancestors within the family line.
- Specific Ancestral Belief: One particular ancestor held the unique belief that "the goats did not belong to the plains." This notion seemingly spurred the creation of the tower, offering the goats a vertical environment distinct from the flat ground.
In essence, the goat tower is a fascinating example of architectural folly – a building primarily for decoration or amusement, with little or no practical purpose, often reflecting the specific ideas or eccentricities of its builder.
What is a Goat Tower?
Generally, a goat tower is a structure designed for goats to climb. They vary in size and complexity but typically involve ramps or steps spiraling around a central column or structure, allowing goats to ascend to different levels or a viewing platform at the top. While some modern examples might be built for novelty or tourism, historical ones like the one at the Guedes estate often fall under the category of architectural curiosities.
Today, the goat tower remains a distinctive feature of the Guedes family estate, standing as a testament to the artistic "daydreams" and unconventional ideas of previous generations.
