A landscape surrounded by overgrown mountains defines Alea; paths run through the village, and a circular hike leads to the summit of La Gobia. The Río Acebo has a natural bathing spot and a small waterfall. Traditional stone-and-wood houses and the 16th-century Palacio de Alea add architecture and history to the landscape.

Walks and circular hike

The paths through Alea invite you to take a walk. If you would like to include a hike with a named destination in your plans, you can choose the Alea–La Gobia–Alea circular hike. It leads from the village to the summit of La Gobia and then returns by a different path. The return route therefore does not follow the same track as the outward leg. The loop is listed as 6.75 kilometres; this distance may differ from current mapping. Also check the conditions of the paths locally before setting out.

Water at the Río Acebo

A staircase beside the AS-342 road leads to a natural bathing spot at the Río Acebo. As path conditions can change, check them before your visit. There is also a small waterfall at the Río Acebo. Swimming is possible at a natural spot on the river during the warmer months; whether conditions are suitable depends on the weather and water.

Traditional houses and Palacio de Alea

Alea’s traditional houses are built mainly from stone and wood. This means the building style is evident not only in a single monument, but also in the village’s houses.

Palacio de Alea dates from the 16th century. Its tower-like main building stands between two lower side wings, each with two floors. The stepped arrangement of the taller main building and the lower wings makes the building’s external form easy to understand.

The façade also has a striking detail: a round-arched portal made from large wedge-shaped stones. Voussoirs are wedge-shaped stones that together form a round arch. The portal’s design thus combines the shape of the arch with the masonry around the entrance. Your gaze can move from the overall structure of the palace to this individual façade detail.

Different focuses for your stay

When choosing when to travel, a visit to the river is particularly easy to assess: swimming is possible during the warmer months, but also depends on the weather and water. A hike requires different preparation, since the 6.75-kilometre distance may differ from current mapping and path conditions should be checked locally. This sets the seasonal conditions for swimming against a specific route that should be checked before the hike. Walks through Alea and the architecture of the palace offer their own points of interest: one outdoors, the other in its design and history.

Discover more destinations: Sardedo, Ardines, Sardalla, Camango

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