Discover Maoño: Cultural Routes, Churches and Nature

Maoño: The municipal route “Av. Juan de Herrera (junto al Molino) – Ermita de San Mateo” runs as a walk through Azoños and Maoño. It crosses a small plain open towards the Camargo Valley to Maoño; further on, the municipal route heads north towards the La Jaya neighbourhood and San Mateo.

For planning your trip, this route can be considered in terms of its course, landscape and the sites along the way towards the north. When choosing a holiday apartment, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions can provide a practical basis for comparison. Depending on your priorities, this information can be compared with the themes of cultural routes, natural surroundings or festivals, while the places and events mentioned provide the content framework for your own planning and make different preferences clear in advance.

You can also open the pages for Mompia, Soto De La Marina and Sancibrían.

Culture and History

The Casona de los Molleda has a 17th-century ashlar-stone portal. In the Rillo neighbourhood of Maoño stands the Casa de los Portilla, a house built in the 18th century.

The Casa de los Portilla stands on a small hill with panoramic views over Maoño and the Church of San Vicente.

The first documentary mention of the Church of San Vicente dates from 1679. The church contains an altarpiece dating from 1730; its central niche houses a seated representation of the Virgen Reina from the 16th century.

Today, the Church of San Vicente is a visible testimony to an ancient place of worship that may date back to the 12th century. A partially erased inscription can be read on the frontispiece of the Chapel of San Mateo; it names Melchor de la Portilla as administrator and gives the year 1693. The Chapel of San Mateo has a shell-shaped niche containing the saint; the municipal route links it to earlier pilgrims travelling to Santiago.

Music and Festivals

Part of the cultural infrastructure is the Escuela de Música de Maoño, which offers musical training in piano, guitar and singing for children and adults aged five and over. There is no age limit, and the training is open regardless of whether those interested are registered residents of Maoño.

A bolos game was held during the Fiestas del Agua in Maoño. On the final day, potatoes with chorizo were distributed.

Natural Surroundings

An interpretive route leads from Maoño through the Peñas Negras Cantabrian holm-oak forest to Alto de la Gigüela. Peñas Negras is home to holm oaks, strawberry trees and blackthorns, which provide shelter for tawny owls, foxes and squirrels.

Along the route through Peñas Negras, information panels beside the hiking trail provide information about the local fauna, flora and geology.

At Alto de la Gigüela, there is said to be a viewpoint built at the time, offering views over Santander Bay.

For the wider travel overview: Santa Cruz De Bezana.