Espinama: Trails, Churches and Hórreos in the Valdebaró Valley

Espinama and Pido form the upper section of the Valdebaró Valley and are considered a suitable starting point for excursions into the Picos de Europa. Between paths through the landscape and buildings in the village, the focus shifts from natural history to local history.

Nature and Trails

The PR-PNPE 26, Ruta Hayedo de las Ilces, is a 10.4-kilometre circular trail that starts and ends in Espinama. For this route, starting in Espinama and walking counterclockwise is recommended; the circular trail is signposted in this direction. The Ruta Hayedo de las Ilces follows the course of the Deva along its right bank, below the forests descending from the peaks of Coriscao, and leads through Las Ilces.

The PR-PNPE 24, Ruta Puertos de Áliva, leads from El Cable through the mountain pastures of Áliva down to Fuente Dé. It includes extensive mountain pastures in Áliva as well as beech and oak forests in the final section. This final section is an alternative to the path descending to Espinama; from Espinama, you have to walk 2.5 kilometres uphill along the road to reach Fuente Dé. For planning your trip, this means that two different walking rhythms are available: a self-contained circular route and a route with a clearly defined destination.

When considering a holiday apartment in Espinama, you can review the travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions alongside one another on the respective listing page. This information provides a clear basis for comparing different offers for your own travel period.

More places to discover: Pido, Fuente Dé, Lon, Turieno, Cosgaya and Pembes.

Culture and History

The new church of Espinama and its adjoining rooms are arranged in an L-shape around a square courtyard with a colonnade featuring monastery-like design elements. The Centro Parroquial de Espinama stands on elevated ground and dominates the view over the village. The new church was built between 1966 and 1968 according to a design by the architect Ángel Hernández Morales.

The Iglesia Vieja de Espinama, dedicated to Saint Vincent the Martyr, dates back to the late 16th century, although its origins are sometimes placed a century later; it was built by stonemasons from Trasmiera. The Puente de San Vicente next to the old church of Espinama was built towards the end of the 18th century with the support of Alejandro Rodríguez de Cosgaya.

In the hamlet of Resturo stands La Casona, Espinama’s largest manor house. It has two large coats of arms as well as elaborate decorations on the stone windows and the wooden gallery and eaves.

The first known documentary mention of hórreos in Espinama dates from 26 July 1463. The Hórreos de Liébana are freestanding grain and storage buildings with walls made of wooden boards and roofs made of Arabic roof tiles with two or four roof sections. They stand approximately two metres above the ground on four or six truncated-pyramid-shaped feet made of wood or stone, known as “pegollos”.

To the higher-level travel overview: Camaleño.