La Espina (Principado de Asturias) (0)

Did you know that... La Espina

It is located in a penillanura at the top of the port of the same name, at a strategic crossroads through which the Primitive Way passes, at the western end of the council of Salas to which it belongs and forming part of the parish of the same name. La Espina, being a crossroads of paths and roads, an incessant passage for travellers and pilgrims, was the site of pilgrim hospitals. One of them was founded perhaps with the donations made in 883 by King Alfonso III El Magno to the sanctuary of Compostela, the other hospital, called San Pedro Apóstol, was paid for by Fernando Valdés Salas, bishop of Oviedo and general inquisitor. These hospitals and their malteries were exempt from taxes thanks to the privileges granted by kings, among them Alfonso IX, according to what is said in writings dated in the year 1224, in addition it is known that these hospitals did not disappear until more or less the 18th century. Until then, the lands of La Espina belonged to malting. Towards the XIII century and due to its strategic situation, being a crossroads, this braña vaqueira was prosperous and important, in it was signed, in the year 1277, a letter of brotherhood between Avilés, Pravia, Grau, Salas, Somiedo, Valdés, Tineo, Cangas and Allande, thus being born what could be called the first federation of Asturian councils. La Espina belonged to the council of Tineo until the 16th century. At the beginning of the 19th century La Espina formed an independent town council together with Bodenaya, Idarga and Brañalonga. La Espina was the seat and capital of this town hall, the town hall was in the Venta building and the town hall lasted three years. During the Carlist Wars the locality was a place of passage and overnight of the generals Gómez and Espartero.

To discover What to see in La Espina?

The parish church of La Espina is dedicated to San Vicente and it is known that it once had separate places, in ecclesiastical celebrations, for local people and outsiders. In the main street of La Espina you can enjoy a curious mixture of styles, where current buildings, peasant houses, breadbaskets and even some palace can see the visitor. On the outskirts of La Espina, on a rock, you can admire a polychrome dolmen.

Festivities

On the first Sunday in July in La Espina is celebrated the traditional celebration called La Festona. In September, the Covadonga Fair is held in the locality, and the Sunday following the festival of the Virgin of Covadonga is the Sheep Fair.

Traditions

There is a popular belief that the church was closely related to the ancient and renowned malting of La Espina, known by the name of Our Lady of Baçar. Nothing remains of this old hospital because the image of Saint Lawrence, patron saint of lepers, which was kept here, was destroyed during the Civil War. This carving was approached by the neighbors with water for once blessed to be used in home remedies and cures.

Curiosities

At Venta de las Cruces, a place very close to La Espina, the Primitive Way connects with the Coastal Way.

The Legend

Legend has it that here, where five rivers sprout and an old wetland resists disappearing, there was a city called Remolero that was built over the waters and that when its inhabitants refused to give shelter and assistance to some pilgrims, this city was cursed and it was those same waters that sustained it that made it disappear and it is said that when it rains a lot you could still see the heart of an oak emerging and that the bottom of the pond shone.