Quijano between Pas Landscapes and Cultural Heritage

Quijano makes its local history visible through paths, neighbourhoods and individual buildings. Particularly distinctive is the 3.89-kilometre-long „La huella de los indianos“ route. It presents Quijano through the heritage of the Indianos and the wealth that came to the town from the Americas.

Landscape

Geographically, Quijano is situated on a Pleistocene terrace above Holocene deposits. To the west, the Pas River forms the boundary with the localities of Vioño and Oruña. The landscape alternates between maize fields and hay meadows, which serve as fodder for cattle. Individual stands of poplars and alders line the Pas; at the same time, the river receives the waters of the Campiza watercourse. In a wooded section of the route through Quijano, there are numerous birds of various species.

Quijano can be reached from Renedo via the regional road CA-233. The landscape, the river connections and the wooded sections give the paths different thematic focuses, without requiring them to be reduced to the same experience.

History

La Edesa is one of Quijano’s oldest neighbourhoods. Several adjoining houses stand there on elevated ground that sought protection from flooding by the Pas River. The Barrio de La Edesa also has an old spring fountain whose water is drinkable again, as well as the old washing place „Palancate“, which was restored by a local resident.

The Fuente Naveda also refers to earlier everyday routines: it served as a watering place for livestock and as a washing place. Many residents of Quijano continue to use its water for their needs. The present-day Centro Cultural Municipal de Quijano is located in the former hospital commissioned by Ambrosio Mazorra.

Culture

The „La huella de los indianos“ route includes, as a cultural point of interest, a coat-of-arms doorway belonging to the manor house of a hidalgo. Another point of interest on the route through Quijano is the 18th-century Casa de Ciriaco de Cevallos Bustillo. The route thus connects the history of the Indianos with specific buildings in the town.

The San Miguel Chapel has a single-nave body and a hipped roof. Its masonry consists of irregular ashlar stones, except at the corners of the building. The church contains an altarpiece from the second half of the 17th century.

Quijano’s traditional Belén Viviente was first held more than 40 years ago. At the Centro cultural de Quijano, a Belén de Quijano consisted of 24 large figures and an extensive depiction of animals.

Paths

In addition to the „La huella de los indianos“ route, a local path runs in a semicircle from Barrio El Regato to Barrio La Edesa. The different routes and themes can be considered separately when planning your own visit: here, local history is the focus; there, the connection between the two barrios.

When comparing holiday apartments in Quijano, you can check travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions side by side on the offer pages and assess the information according to your own priorities. The three fields keep the focus on the specific selection.

Other places: Villanueva, Ongayo, Borleña, Corvera, Somahoz, Somaniezo, Quintana, Argüébanes

For the higher-level travel overview: Cantabria.