In Oreña, religious buildings with links to the 11th century stand alongside Cueva de Cualventi, a section of the Camino de Santiago and cliffs on the Cantabrian Sea. The sites and themes offer different highlights: from architecture and traces of history to the pilgrimage route and coastal landscape.

San Pedro and the chapels

The parish church of San Pedro stands on a hill between the districts of Torriente, Caborredondo, San Roque and Viallán, in the center of Oreña. Its prismatic tower has four stories and a hipped roof; Herrerian-style spheres sit at the corners. The Camino de Santiago also leads to Oreña via a farm track and then on to the parish church. A prismatic tower has a body with flat sides; its four stories are the levels stacked one above another, forming its vertical structure. A hipped roof has sloping roof surfaces on all sides, with no vertical gable ends. The Herrerian-style spheres sit at the corners as individual spherical elements. Together, these features illustrate the architecture of the parish church of San Pedro, from its geometric main structure to its corner details.

The small Ermita de San Bartolomé, dating from the 11th century, is in the district of Caborredondo. Outside, carved corbels support the cornice and depict animal and human motifs. The Ermita de San Tito is in Viallán; the first written references to the chapel also date from the 11th century. A pilgrims’ hospital once stood nearby.

The two chapels offer different historical points of interest: at San Bartolomé, the carved architectural features stand out; at San Tito, the early written references and former connection with pilgrimage are noteworthy.

Cueva de Cualventi

Cueva de Cualventi is still partly active and extends for almost a kilometer in total. It was designated an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1985. Archaeological remains dating from prehistory to the Middle Ages have been discovered in the cave. Its geological characteristics therefore sit alongside a long span of archaeological finds.

The Camino de Santiago and the coastal landscape

Two different landmarks are noted for the Camino de Santiago: the route leads to Oreña via a farm track and then on to the parish church; the section from Oreña to Caborredondo is 2.5 km long. Cliffs on the Cantabrian Sea can also be seen in Oreña. The pilgrimage route and coastal landscape therefore offer different ways to explore the area.

Watermill and waterfall in La Canaleja

There is a watermill in La Canaleja, where the water flows on into a waterfall. If you would like to include the waterfall in your plans, check local conditions in advance, as they can vary.

Discover more destinations: Cobreces, Toñanes, Caborredondo

For the broader travel overview: Alfoz De Lloredo.