Inguanzo combines Paleolithic cave art with a layered architectural history. A church and several historic manor houses showcase different architectural styles; the Ruta de los Artistas de la Covaciella adds an old forest path and views toward the Sierra del Cuera to the cultural attractions. If history and architecture are your main interests on your trip, you can consider the cave, church, and palaces as separate highlights. The path adds a scenic element.

Paleolithic Art in Cueva de El Bosque

Cueva de El Bosque is in Inguanzo and is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural. It is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Paleolithic rock art. The cave has three panels of wall art: the panels of signs, the aurochs, and the goats. They date to the Middle Magdalenian. The specific motifs and their dating give the site a prehistoric focus. By contrast, the church and historic residential buildings date to later centuries and offer a different perspective on Inguanzo.

Church and Palaces: Different Architectural Styles

The Iglesia de Santa Cruz de Inguanzo is a rural Baroque church dating from 1780. Its floor plan follows a Latin cross; it has a single nave and an open transept. Its good state of preservation is another of the church’s defining features. As a building’s condition can change over time, check the current situation before visiting.

The Palacio del Mayorazgo de Inguanzo offers a different architectural comparison. It was built in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, placing it in the Baroque period, but its architectural style is clearly influenced by the Renaissance. The compact rectangular structure has two floors and no courtyard. This makes it possible to distinguish a building’s period from its defining architectural forms, without conflating Baroque and Renaissance styles. The palace and its protected surroundings were designated a Bien de Interés Cultural in 1994.

The Casona de La Corralada adds another dimension as a 17th-century manor house-palace. Its square floor plan and cubic structure are complemented by a hipped roof and an adjacent hórreo. The side façade features a large Baroque coat of arms and, below it, a shell-shaped loophole. These details distinguish the Casona from the rectangular, two-story palace: both invite you to pay attention to their structures and façade features, rather than treating the historic houses as a single architectural group.

Route and Festival Date

The Ruta de los Artistas de la Covaciella follows an old path through the forest to Inguanzo. First, cross the bridge that connects Berodia and Inguanzo to the main road of the municipality. On the way to Inguanzo, the route runs almost horizontally along the mountainside and offers views of the Sierra del Cuera.

You can also reach Inguanzo by descending via the Estazadas toward the Casaño Valley. Another possible point of interest for planning your trip is San Antón, also called San Antonio Abad, which is celebrated in Inguanzo on January 17. If you are planning your trip around this festival, check the dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Tielve, Asiego, Carreña, Ortiguero, Berodia, Puertas.

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