Chana de Somoza: Slate Roofs, Rock Markings and Teleno

Chana de Somoza is situated on a small rocky plateau. The traditional villagescape is characterised by buildings with carefully crafted roofs made of regional slate, lanes known as caleyas, galleries and small houses with ovens. The various details can be viewed as part of the villagescape, sacred architecture and traces in the landscape.

Culture

The sacred architecture includes the parish church of Santiago Apóstol. Its tower bears a mysterious stone cross. The Santo Cristo Chapel houses a remarkable figure of Mary Magdalene on its retable, originating from the abandoned settlement of the same name.

The rocks also preserve distinctive markings. Peña Ferrada is a vertical rock slab with numerous horseshoe and cross motifs in various sizes. In the Peña Martín area there are petroglyphs and further inscriptions carved into the rocks by shepherds.

The cultural traces are thus distributed across different forms and places: in the village, the church, chapel and traditional house forms are central, while outside the villagescape, worked rocks and incised markings are added. This makes it possible to consider architecture, craftsmanship and inherited remains separately, without reducing them to a single feature of the place.

Traditional everyday culture includes galochen, also known as madreñas. These wooden clogs have three heels—two at the front and one at the back—were used for farm work and provided protection from moisture. Traditional wooden galochen were made by woodworkers. Their shape, material and former use thus show three different aspects of the same object: craft production, practical use and traditional designation.

Landscape

The Laguna de Chana de Somoza is an extensive lake that originated from Roman gold mining. In the vicinity of Chana de Somoza, a short signposted path leads from Molinaferrera to the Laguna de Chana de Somoza.

At the Laguna de Chana de Somoza, an information panel explains its geological, biological and historical features. From Chana de Somoza, Teleno can be viewed with its valleys and glacial cirques.

This gives the landscape various focal points: the Laguna combines geological, biological and historical features, while Teleno, with its valleys and glacial cirques, offers a separate view of the mountain range. The short signposted path establishes a different spatial connection from viewing the mountain from the village.

History

Cerro del Castro is a reminder of gold mining in Roman times. The route from Astorga to Pobladura de la Sierra passes through Chana de Somoza.

The historical references thus range from a specific site at Cerro del Castro to a route between Astorga and Pobladura de la Sierra. Together with the Laguna that originated from gold mining, the Roman past is encountered in different landscape contexts, without equating these places or their functions.

Other places

Other location pages in this selection: Lorenzana, Villaobispo de Otero, Sahechores, Barjas, Santa Colomba de las Arrimadas, Sésamo, Magaz de Cepeda, Riego De Ambrós

For the overarching travel overview: León.