Pola De Lena: UNESCO World Heritage, Pilgrimage Routes and Mountain Landscape

Pola De Lena is characterised by a mountainous and rugged landscape. Santa Cristina de Lena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Pola De Lena, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the respective offer page. UNESCO World Heritage, pilgrimage routes, mountain bike and road cycling routes, as well as festivals, represent different focal points for a stay.

Other places to discover: Tuiza De Arriba, Telledo, Piedraceda, Campomanes, Pajares, Jomezana and Chanos De Somerón.

Culture and History

Santa Cristina de Lena has a single-nave, rectangular nave and an iconostasis with three arcades.

The Aula Didáctica offers multimedia reconstructions of Santa Cristina de Lena, Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo. It serves as a tourist information centre for the Lena district and the Principality of Asturias. In four thematic areas, the Aula Didáctica del Prerrománico Asturiano de la Cobertoria provides information about the Asturian kingdom, Asturian architecture and Santa Cristina de Lena.

For a visit to Santa Cristina de Lena, it is recommended to make contact in advance; outside the specified opening hours, a prior telephone enquiry is required.

Routes

The Vía Carisa can be walked or cycled by mountain bike along the signposted route, which is officially designated as GR 100.

In October 2017, the Vía Carisa was protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest in the category “historic transport route”.

The Camino del Salvador reaches La Pola at the end of the stage from Campumanes. The stage of the Camino de San Salvador from Pola de Lena to Mieres begins in La Pola via Calle Hermanos Granda.

For pilgrims on the Camino del Salvador, the Albergue San Martín is located in the centre of La Pola. The Albergue de Peregrinos de La Pola is next to the RENFE railway station and 250 metres from the Camino.

Cycling

The La Pola–Gamoniteiru route is a very difficult, 15-kilometre linear road cycling route that starts and ends in La Pola. The climb from La Pola to Gamoniteiru gains around 1,500 metres of elevation over 15.1 kilometres. Different route lengths and elevation profiles provide a clear basis for comparison when planning your own itinerary. The routes and trails mentioned therefore differ in terms of mode of transport, route character and elevation profile. For planning a day in Pola de Lena, these characteristics can be considered separately, while culture, pilgrimage routes and cycling remain visible as distinct topics.

Festivals and Cuisine

The La Flor de Lena festival, held in Pola de Lena in spring, includes a traditional market, street music and a Romería.

The Fiesta del Cordero features a communal roast lamb as well as Asturian music and cuisine.

In the Town

The Palace of the Marqués de Santa María del Carrizo is recommended as an excursion destination from Pola de Lena. The town centre of Pola de Lena can be explored on foot.

To the higher-level travel overview: Lena.