Llanes is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain, bordered by the Cantabrian Sea, with wonderful beaches and an interesting cultural and natural heritage. Along the coast on which the municipality extends, there are beaches (Playa de El Sablón, Playa de Las Mujeres, Playa de Puerto Chico e Playa de Toró) and cliffs with paths for pleasant walks with views.
The first traces of human life in the territory date back to the Palaeolithic era, and were discovered in some caves in the area, such as Cueva de Balmori. Little is known about the pre-Roman and Roman era, while in medieval times Llanes was surrounded by a wall, had more than a thousand inhabitants and its port contributed to the development of the village. However, towards the end of the 15th century, the economy began to be based on livestock farming and agriculture and, later, on fishing. A profession that developed in the municipality and became known throughout the rest of the country is that of the tile maker (tejero).
The cultural heritage of Llanes includes churches, palaces and buildings of historical interest.
- Remains of the medieval wall and access gates to the village
- The circular defensive tower, from the 13th
- The 18th century building of the Dukes of Estrada with two square towers
- The building of San Nicolás or of the Marquis of Gastañaga, between Calle Mayor and Plaza Santa Ana, from the 14th-15th century
- The building of Posada-Herrera from the 17th-18th century
- The Casino of Llanes from the early 20th century in modernist style
- The building of El Cercáu renovated between the 17th and 18th centuries
- The Basilica of Santa María del Conceyu, in Gothic style, from the 14th-15th century
- The chapel of Santa María Magdalena from the 12th-13th centuries
- The chapel of Nuestra Señora la Virgen de Guía from the 16th century
- The chapel of Santa Ana from the 17th century
- The chapel of San Roque
It also features the Paseo de San Pedro, a park located along a cliff offering spectacular views of the sea and the town; the “Cubos de la Memoria” artwork, concrete blocks that protect the port, painted in different colours; the streets of the historic centre; Asturian gastronomy and traditional festivals.
Among the festivals of interest that take place in Llanes there are: in July the festival of La Magdalena and the festival of Santa Ana; on August 16th the festival of San Roque; and on September 8th the festival of the Virgen de la Guía.
Among the typical dishes of Llanes to taste there is fabada (read the fabada recipe here); the tortos with cheese, minced meat and fried eggs and the boroña preñada, a dough made of corn flour with mainly pork inside; and among the desserts: the frixuelos, the casadielles, the rice pudding and the chocolates “Cubos de Chocolate”, a miniature reproduction of the artwork “Cubos de la Memoria” located in the port.
OTHER CITIES IN THE PRINCIPALITY OF ASTURIAS TO VISIT:
- The coastal city of Gijón preserves traces of its past in its museums and its historic centre, and its medieval and modern architecture in its churches, houses and palaces such. It also has a great variety of green spaces, an exquisite gastronomy recognized at a national level, beaches and coves of uncontaminated beauty and much more. Read more about Gijón here.
- Oviedo has origins that date back to the Middle Ages. The King of Asturias, Alfonso II, fortified the city and built churches and palaces in the 9th century. Relics from the time of Alfonso II can be found in the Cathedral of Oviedo. The city is also an interesting tourist attraction for its cultural heritage; it preserves Asturian pre-Romanesque art, developed between the 9th and 10th centuries, in some buildings declared world heritage by UNESCO. To learn more about what to see in Oviedo, read here.
- Finally, Ribadesella is a coastal town famous for an event that takes place on the first Saturday of August after day 2, the Descenso Internacional del Sella by canoes. The municipality has an important cultural heritage due to the prehistoric sites in caves in the area. To learn more about what to see in Ribadesella read here.
