Casamaría brings together architectural history and practical route planning: the Church of Virgen de Loreto lies in the settlement center, a modern bridge crosses the Suspino, and a circular route runs as far as El Cuesto, near the town. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing the church and the route it lies on from the longer Sierra loop. This lets you focus either on the town’s historic buildings or on a hike lasting several hours.
Church and Architectural History
The Church of Virgen de Loreto lies in the settlement center of Casamaría. Its building dates back to medieval times and may have been a hermitage. The church also preserves a 16th-century apse, the architectural structure that closes the choir at the end of the church. These two historical details relate to different aspects: the building’s origins and a surviving architectural feature. For visitors interested in culture, this makes architectural history a clear focus.
Bridge and Stone Footbridge
The modern bridge in Casamaría was inaugurated in 2010, crosses the Suspino stream, and carries traffic on the CA-855 between Puente El Arrudo and Merodio in Asturias. The old stone footbridge dates from 1910 and remains at its original location. This distinction matters for orientation: the road connection uses the modern bridge, while 1910 is the date of the stone footbridge. This helps place the road connection and the surviving stone structure as two different parts of the town’s history.
Two Routes, Different Plans
The church lies on the “Bosques, prados y pastizales subiendo hacia Peña Sagra” route. Another option is the Sierra de Herrerías circular route. It starts in Cabanzón at the 12th-century Torre Medieval and follows the Camino de la Magdalena along the CA-855. It then takes a farm track to the Suspina River and continues to the neighborhood of El Cuesto, near Casamaría. The circular route is 16.5 km long, with a stated duration of 4 hours 30 minutes. Check the current condition of the route before setting out.
For planning your day, these offer two different reference points: the Loreto church lies on the first route, while the Sierra loop starts in Cabanzón and runs as far as El Cuesto. If you include a hike lasting several hours, you can account for the time it takes as a separate part of your itinerary rather than conflating it with a visit to the church or town center.
Historic Water Feature near El Cuesto
Near Casamaría, by El Cuesto in Herrerías, is the Fuente de El Cuestu. This historic water feature comprises a spring, a livestock watering trough, and an uncovered washbasin. The basin was rectangular, partly dug into an earthen slope and built against its retaining wall; it had two washing stones. Water flowed from the livestock trough into the basin and drained away at ground level through a buried channel. The facility traditionally supplied water to the neighborhood of El Cuesto and is in poor condition. Its design and water flow complement the church’s architectural history with the story of the neighborhood’s former water supply.
Accommodation and Day Planning
If architectural history is your priority, the Loreto church and the old stone footbridge offer specific points of interest. If you include the Sierra loop, bear in mind that it starts in Cabanzón and has a stated duration of 4 hours 30 minutes. This lets you match your accommodation search to your choice between local history and a longer hike.
Discover more destinations: Reocín, Rionansa, Aja, Villabanez, Las Ilces, Camaleño, Bárcena de Ebro, Cartes
For the main travel overview: Cantabria.
