Ice Well

3D Model

Ice Well, Tàrrega (Catalonia)

The ice wells were underground structures that were used to store ice. They were circular with the wall built of stone and covered by a vault or half round pseudovault. They were in use from the 16th century until the 18th and were found in many places. They fell into disuse in the 19th century when ice factories started to appear. The ice collected during the winter was stored in the well in horizontal layers separated by straw or branches. Then thermal insulation of the well helped to keep the ice frozen throughout the year. It was used for therapeutic purposes, to conserve foods like fish, to make ice cream and especially to chill water wine and other drinks. Although it could date from the 16th century, the oldest surviving document about the Tàrrega ice well is from 1512 and is about the lease the town council arranged with a private individual.

This 3D model was made with 230 photos using a GoPro4+