Nature, archaeology and traditional culture come together on the Senda del Oro. Along the trail, you can discover old Roman mining excavations; the area is also home to historic wine-growing terraces, some of which are used to produce Tierra de Cangas wine. La Pena’l Corvo is a particularly vivid example of an ethnographic complex. The well-preserved site includes a dwelling, a granary, a mill, a stable and a small chapel.
Hiking Trails and Mining Traces
If you are interested in Roman gold mining, two routes offer different points of interest: along the Senda del Oro, you can discover old excavations. The Desfiladero de BustelĂn route leads to Cova da Osa, an ancient prospecting tunnel cut into the rock during the Roman gold-mining era.
Ibias also has 11 short-distance hiking routes. Along the way, you can find dolmens, pallozas, cortines and remains of Roman mining, among other things. Another option is the long-distance GR-203 trail: several of its stages pass through Ibias, three in their entirety and two in part. The two stages that pass partly through Ibias also cross Cangas and Degaña, respectively. Check the latest route and trail-condition information before setting out.
Access to Riodeporcos is also special: the village can only be reached via a suspension bridge over the River Navia. As access conditions may change, it is advisable to check local information before your visit. One route into Ibias passes through the Muniellos Biological Reserve via Puerto del Connio; here too, it is worth checking current conditions and access rules.
Crafts, Architecture and History
The Ethnographic Museum of Ibias offers insights into traditional occupations in the municipality, including those of tixileiros, carpenters and basket makers. The Museo Etnográfico del Tixileiro in Sisterna displays a foot-powered lathe and various wooden objects, especially tableware made by Cunqueiros in the past. You may need to arrange your visit in advance, so it is best to check before you arrive.
Sisterna and El Bao preserve the memory of the Cunqueiros’ itinerant woodworking tradition. From autumn to spring, they made and sold wooden objects across much of Spain. The history of this craft therefore includes not only the making of the objects, but also selling them while travelling. At La Palloza, traditional circular or oval houses with stone walls and rye-straw roofs have been recreated.
The Church of San AntolĂn offers a different perspective. It dates from the 13th century. Its porch is supported by slender columns and stands on a slate wall; the main façade is designed as a three-tiered bell gable. Here, historical dating and specific architectural details can be considered side by side.
Landscape and Local Products
Black slate, pallozas and high-altitude vineyards are characteristic features of Ibias’s cultural landscape. Ibias is partly within the Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña e Ibias Natural Park and the Biosphere Reserve. The sources of the River Ibias and its tributaries run through the sierras and valleys, carrying crystal-clear water.
At the El Tixileiro shop in Sisterna, you can find Asturian honey with a PGI, wines with a Cangas PDO, cheese, as well as cured meats from LeĂłn and Iberian cured meats. If you plan to stop by or shop there, check the current selection beforehand.
For local information, the municipal tourist office is located in the building housing the Aula de la Naturaleza and the Ethnographic Museum. If you are planning a specific visit, check the latest opening information first.
Discover more destinations: Cecos, San Antolin De Ibias, GozĂłn, Cangas De Onis, Comarca De La Sidra, Navia, Pesoz, Comarca Vaqueira.
For the wider travel overview: Asturias.
