Discover Villamoñico: Churches, Castles and Rock Architecture

Villamoñico is one of the villages in southern Cantabria where interesting examples of vernacular architecture can be found. Those interested in architectural forms, connections with the landscape and historical context can examine the village’s distinctive features from these different perspectives.

Culture

The Church of La Asunción in Villamoñico was originally a Romanesque church. It preserves the central window of its former Romanesque bell gable, as well as a carved corbel depicting a turtle. These two surviving details in particular connect the original architectural form with an unusual figurative work.

The Castle of Villamoñico is an early medieval castle. Its walled complex has remnants of a moat on the western side; inside is a necropolis of slab graves. Another independent architectural monument is the Villamoñico school, designed by the architect Manuel Vías Sáenz-Díez. The church, castle, school and country house each display their own architectural features.

The Posada Peñasalve in Villamoñico is a fully restored country house covering 650 square metres, preserving stone and wood elements while respecting the traditional local architecture.

When booking a holiday apartment in Villamoñico, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions are among the details that describe the stay in terms of timing, type of accommodation and the rules for changes or cancellations. For travel planning, the period, accommodation type and conditions therefore stand alongside one another as separate aspects. Depending on your focus, these three details can be considered independently, without mixing them with the cultural and landscape features of the village.

Landscape

Villamoñico can be reached via the CA-751 road. The Mardancho Route follows the road towards Villamoñico for a short section and then continues along an almost level path near the Mardancho stream. For your planning, you can consider the road section, route and terrain as separate features.

The rock dwelling known as La Media Fanega is located on La Mesa mountain, northeast of Villamoñico.

History

The medieval deserted settlement of San Pedro lies southeast of Villamoñico, on the path to Berzosilla. At San Pedro, in the surroundings of Villamoñico, visitors can see a rock necropolis with around twenty anthropomorphic graves. The archaeological site of San Pedro, in the surroundings of Villamoñico, also preserves the ruins of a medieval castle.

The medieval deserted settlement of Villagarcía lies south of Villamoñico on the La Lora plateau. In Villagarcía, in the surroundings of Villamoñico, the ruins of dwellings and livestock pens are visible. The indications that San Pedro lies southeast and Villagarcía south, together with the different landscapes, help you clearly distinguish the two sites.

Other places in this overview: Rada, Comillas, Villaverde De Pontones, Valcaba, Rumoroso, Valdáliga, Peñacastillo, Santander, La Busta

The dwellings carved into the rock and known as Los Ventanos are located on La Mesa mountain between Villamoñico and Villanueva de la Nía. During the period of repopulation, Los Ventanos were probably used as hermitages.

To the broader travel overview: Cantabria.