Romanesque architecture and the mithical sueve
VILLAVICIOSA - COLUNGA - EL FITO
We take the N-634 main road towards Villaviciosa via Pola de Siero.
When we have gone through this town we will come to the turn off
to Aramil, the first Romanesque church on our route, a small rural
temple built in the 12th century. Shortly afterwards, we come
to the crossroads where we have to take the AS-331 road in the
direction of Villaviciosa. We go along this road to Alto de La
Campa, where it is certainly worth your while to stop and take
a look at Valdediós, in the old Valley of Boides.
Near the top we can take a branch road off to the right and head for the tiny village of Arbazal. Here there is an old in which belonged to the Valdediós Cistercians, dating from the 17th century, a church from the 16th century and a small chapel attached to it from the 13th century.
Back on the road again, we take the turning which will lead to Valdediós. Here you should stop and take a look at the Church of San Salvador, built by Alfonso III in the 9th century and an example of the last Asturian pre-Romanesque art. Close to the church there is the Santa María Monastery with its church dating back to the 13th century, its 16th and 18th century cloister, the courtyard and the abbot's house.
Before reaching Villaviciosa, there are a series of branch roads always to the right which will take us to the churches of San Andrés de Valdebárcena, Santa María de Lugás, San Julián de Viñon and San Juan de Amandi. All of them retain a Romanesque structure. Once in Villaviciosa, we can take a look at its pre-Gothic church of Santa María de la Oliva and tour the town, which has Renaissance buildings, and the baroque suburb known as El Ancho. Its old quarter has been declared of Historic and Artistic Interest. This town is also famous for its processions at Easter.
If you like, you can visit the nearby typical fishing village of Tazones where Carlos I first came ashore. We can restore our energy by trying its many seafood varieties.
Back on the road again, we leave Villaviciosa along the N-632. If we follow the road towdrds Rodiles beach we can visit the Church of Santa Eulalia de Selorio.
If we keep on the N-632 we will come to a turn off for Lastres, a beautiful fishing village, which retains the buildings of its local noblemen as well as others of a purely popular character. This village has been declared of Historic and Artistic Interest. From here we go on until we meet up again with the N-632 in Colunga, another town which is well worth a visit. A little further on we will come to a road which takes us up the slopes of El Sueve, a mythical mountain where the last surviving Asturcones (an Asturian breed of horse) are kept. We will come to the Mirador del Fito, a viewpoint from where we get a magnificent view of the Asturian coast, the River Sella Valley and the Picos de Europa: absolutely breathtaking scenery.
From here we can go on to Arriondas where
we can take the N-634 back to Oviedo or we can go back the way
we came.
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