A good thread to follow through Noreña is Sabadiego. This sausage is part of the town’s culinary tradition, takes centre stage at a spring celebration and also offers a glimpse into the history of the sausage-making industry. Alongside this food culture, a historic Camino route and buildings from different centuries shape the sights to discover in Noreña.
Food culture with an industrial history
Picadillo and Sabadiego are the main dishes of the Fiesta del Picadillo y el Sabadiego, held every spring. Sabadiego is a sausage made from blood, lean meat and onions; Noreña is considered its traditional stronghold. The fiesta has been declared a Festival of Tourist Interest of the Principality of Asturias. The exact dates vary each year—check the date before planning your trip around it.
The Monumento al Gochu celebrates this culinary connection: the life-size bronze sculpture was erected in 2001 as a tribute to the animal that provides the raw materials for Noreña’s important sausage-making industry. The Fábrica La Luz is also part of this story. This major industrial building dates from 1913 and was the first building in Noreña to use modern sausage-making machinery. The municipal account also credits the factory with being the first in the world to can Asturian fabada.
Palaces, a clock tower and houses steeped in history
The Palacio del Rebollín reveals a long building history: it took shape over several construction phases from the 16th to the 18th century. The Palacio de Miraflores, by contrast, dates from the late 16th century. Its classical design is influenced by the Herrerian style and is arranged around a courtyard surrounded by arcades. Álvaro Flórez Estrada (1776–1853) spent the last years of his life there and died at the Palacio de Miraflores.
The other buildings also tell stories of different periods and functions. The Church of Santa María de Noreña stands above an older Romanesque church, while its exterior shows Renaissance influences. The Torre del Reloj dates from the last quarter of the 17th century. It once served as a local prison and public clock; residents were summoned to meetings from there. The Quiosco de la Música on the Paseo de Fray Ramón adds a distinctive architectural detail to this history: it was designed by Juan Miguel de la Guardia and built by Arturo Bertrand. Its octagonal structure is made of iron and wood, and its dome is covered with zinc shingles and topped with a needle-shaped finial.
Two houses offer a different perspective. The Casa de Pedro Alonso was built in the early 20th century as an eclectic Indiano-style house; its garden is home to Asturian and American trees. The Casa de Ramón Pérez de Ayala dates from 1874. The Asturian writer and journalist spent his summers in this house in Noreña.
The Camino de Santiago through Noreña
The Camino de Santiago route through Noreña has been declared a Bien de Interés Cultural as a historic route. Pilgrims used it in the later Middle Ages and at the beginning of the Early Modern period. The section through Noreña runs between Ferrera and the Palacio de Miraflores, before the route enters the built-up area of the Villa de Noreña. This brings together, along a single route, a protected historic designation, a pilgrimage history spanning several periods and a clearly described course.
River and road connections
The river system also helps to place the area geographically: the Noreña River flows into the Nora, which in turn is a tributary of the Nalón. Road connections include the N-634 national road towards Oviedo and Santander, exit 19 of the AS-I Autovía Minera and exit 22 of the A-64 motorway. If you are planning your journey around these routes, check the road layout before setting off.
Discover more destinations: Noreña, Parque Histórico Del Navia, San Martín Del Rey Aurelio, Corvera De Asturias, Morcín, Mieres, Gozón, Cabrales.
For the wider travel overview: Asturias.
