Llanes (Principado de Asturias) (0)

Did you know that... Llanes

It is situated between the Cantabrian Sea and the Cuera mountain range, between the beach and the fishing port, and green meadows and lush hills. The appearance of numerous archaeological remains makes us think that it was heavily populated in prehistoric times, but not in Roman times of which there are hardly any remains. In the High Middle Ages it was known by the name of Aquilare or Aguilar, due to the dominion exercised by this aristocratic family that had its castle-residence in the place and from which a good part of the coastal area was dominated.

A little more history

It was Alfonso IX of León who granted it privileges and built the walls and fortress-towers to defend the town from the attacks of those noble families who sought to regain dominion over it. From the 16th to the 19th century, the history of Llanes goes hand in hand with that of its illustrious sons, who reached relevance in positions of Spanish society and became part of national history. During the nineteenth century the life of the people of Llanes underwent a major change when in 1809 and until 1812, the troops of Napoleon installed in the former Convent of the Augustinian Recollects, now converted into a hotel building, its headquarters, being frequent during this time the clashes between the French army and the guerrillas of the resistance llanisca. After the war and the disasters caused by it, the traditional economic activity declined and the llaniscos were forced to emigrate in search of fortune, this emigration continued well into the twentieth century.

What to see in Llanes?

Around the remains of the wall of an old fortress and the tower that are still preserved, both from the 13th century, is the historic centre of Llanes. Famous houses such as the palace of Vega del Sella or the house of the Relatives, in the Major street. The Palace of the Gastañaga, from the 14th and 15th centuries, located at the confluence of the main street with the Santa Ana Square, this square is one of the corners of the old town where the medieval atmosphere is best preserved, in it we also find the Santa Ana chapel. Next to the church of Santa Maria, whose construction began in the thirteenth century and was inaugurated in the fifteenth and keeps in its interior a beautiful plateresque altarpiece and was named Minor Basilica in 1973, is the palace of Posadas de Herrera of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The chapel of La Magdalena, in the square of the same name, was built on top of a previous one, supposedly a primitive parish church from the 13th century.

To discover

In the port is the work The Cubes of Memory, created by the Basque artist Agustín Ibarrola. Llanes also gives us walks that run through various places of interest, the Promenade of San Pedro, year 1847, that bordering the cliffs offers us the enjoyment of a beautiful panoramic view of the town and the coast, the Promenade of San Antón that beginning next to the port approaches us until the beach of Port Chico and linking with the Path of Toró finalizes the route in the Beach of the same name, or the Fluvial Path of the River Carroceu, that unites Llanes, passing by La Portilla, with the neighboring town of Pancar, and beaches like Toró, Puertu Chicu and Sablón.

Festivities

Llanes celebrates festivities in San Roque on August 16, September 8 honors Nuestra Señora Virgen de Guía, and Santa María Magdalena on July 22, July 26 the sailors llaniscos celebrate their patron saint Santa Ana.

Traditions

On the feast day of Saint Anne, 26 July, the sailors of Llanes honour their patron saint with a "boat procession" Salea.​

Curiosities

The construction of the church of Santa María del Conceyu (present-day Basilica) was financed by the village of Llanes. When its construction began in the 13th century, the wealthiest families of the time contributed financially, and with the creation of a tax all the neighbours collaborated. That is why the basilica of Llanes is one of the few religious buildings that exist in which the property still belongs to the people today, and not to the clergy as usual.

The Legend

The local poet Celso Amieva gives us to know Llanes in his work Poemas de Llanes (Poems of Llanes) and part of his verses go through, forged in the pavement, the streets of the Historical Centre, inviting the walker to discover them: I dip my devout hand in your cider, I persecute with the index and the middle my face and I will bless your marine, rural, river, urban, catholic, joker, Asturian and Indian property.

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