The Way of St. James as it passes through Colunga
On the Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago, the municipality of Colunga provides access to the Cider Region. Many pilgrims spend the night in Colunga, because it is the end of the stage that begins in Ribadesella.
A couple of minutes into the route, you can see the church of Santiago de Gobiendes, a beautiful masterpiece from the pre-Romanesque period. Following the neighbourhood of Loreto, the pilgrim enters the centre, a small but welcoming village full of interesting buildings, such as the house or Alonso Covián and the church of San Cristóbal.
A little further down, the pilgrim will find the Chapel of Santa Ana, which formerly housed a pilgrims’ hospital.
The road leaves the village via Calle Grande Covián, continuing along Calle Carril before crossing the bridge over the river Libardón.
The next church, visible along the road, is San Pedro de Pernús, just before leaving the municipality of La Llera. There, we find the parish church of San Antolín, which formerly acted as a church sanctuary offering immunity to lawbreakers.
The neighbouring municipality through which the road will pass is Villaciciosa.
The Cares Route
The Cares Route is one of the most spectacular routes in Europe. It is a 12-kilometre route that runs through the Cares River gorge, between the towns of Caín and Poncebos, in the Picos de Europa National Park, connecting the provinces of Asturias and León. The route offers impressive views of the mountains, forests and the river, as well as the possibility of observing the fauna and flora of the area. The Ruta del Cares is suitable for everyone, as long as you have a minimum level of physical fitness and respect safety regulations. It can be done at any time of the year, although you have to take into account the weather conditions and the state of the road. The Ruta del Cares is a unique experience that you cannot miss if you like nature and adventure.