La Canal: Monastic Culture, Manor Houses and Circular Route

La Canal begins with a clear historical reference: the Monasterio de La Canal was classified as a Site of Local Interest in 2003. If you wish to explore a place through named buildings, people and documented details, this historical classification provides a distinctive starting point.

Culture and History

The Monasterio de La Canal was founded by Domingo Herrera de la Concha y Miera, who provided a plot of land from his estate for this purpose and exercised the patronage. The Monasterio Concepcionista de La Canal has a two-storey cloister with twenty Herrerian arches. The documentary collection of the Convento de la Purísima Concepción de La Canal in Villafufre comprises 40 documentary units produced on parchment and vellum between 1660 and 1948.

The Iglesia Franciscana de La Canal forms part of an 18th-century religious complex. The façade and portal of the Convento de La Canal date from the second half of the 17th century. The Iglesia Franciscana de La Canal contains two funerary sculptures of the monastery’s founders, works by the Cantabrian sculptor Gabriel de Rubalcava.

La Canal’s historical evidence represents various cultural facets: its foundation history, architecture and written records emerge through proper names and dates, presenting the place from different historical perspectives.

Routes through Villafufre

There is a bus stop called La Canal in Villafufre. La Canal is also included in the circular route “Por los pueblos y barrios de Villafufre”. The route follows the road through the villages and districts of the municipality of Villafufre, visiting chapels, churches, towers and manor houses along the way.

Different local references therefore provide a temporal framework for a stay in La Canal: the bus stop within the municipality and a circular route connecting several villages and districts. The chapels, churches, towers and manor houses mentioned mark the individual stops along this described route.

Gastronomy and Music

La Dama Boba is a restaurant in La Canal de Villafufre, housed in a restored 18th-century Montañés manor house and combining gastronomy, art and music. La Dama Boba makes its own bread and reinterprets traditional flavours through contemporary recipes.

This culinary destination has a different focus from the religious buildings. Here, historic surroundings, art, music and contemporary flavours come together to create a distinct culinary facet.

In La Canal, culture, routes and gastronomy represent different thematic facets ranging from inherited heritage to contemporary flavours.

Other Places

Other places for planning your trip include San Sebastián de Garabandal, Sierra De Ibio, Puente Pumar, Viérnoles, Corvera de Toranzo, Totero, Ramales De La Victoria and Somahoz.

Cultural Heritage

The Bolera de La Canal is recorded as tangible cultural heritage. It is currently used occasionally or sporadically.

For the overarching travel overview: Cantabria.