For planning your trip, Caviedes offers two distinct points of interest: the trails on Monte Corona and the town’s architectural heritage, with churches, hermitages and historic houses.

Monte Corona: Route and Landscape

The Monte Corona loop trail starts and ends at the Hermitage of San Antonio near Caviedes. It is 9.5 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 335 metres. If you start and finish the Monte Corona excursion in Caviedes, it is 3.3 kilometres longer and has an additional 100 metres of elevation gain. Along the way, there are views of the western part of the region. The 9.5 kilometres therefore refers to the loop trail starting at the hermitage; the additional figures apply to starting and finishing in Caviedes.

The trails on Monte Corona are suitable for cycling. Along a section about 100 metres long, the trail disappears, so cyclists have to dismount. If you are planning to cycle the trails, this short stretch is a practical detail to bear in mind when choosing your route.

The landscape also changes along the Monte Corona trail: eucalyptus plantations give way to a narrow strip of scrubland, followed by deciduous forest with impressive oak trees. These different types of vegetation complement the information on distance and elevation gain.

Getting There and Starting Point

Caviedes can be reached via the A-8 or the N-634 Santander–Oviedo. From Caviedes, a good forest track leads up to the Hermitage of San Antonio; its first section is paved. There is a good parking area opposite the shrine. Since the Monte Corona loop trail starts and ends at the hermitage, the starting point and route description can be considered together. The longer excursion, however, starts and ends in Caviedes.

Churches and Hermitages

In the centre of Caviedes stands the present-day Church of Saints Justus and Pastor. It dates from the 18th century and is the parish church of Caviedes and Vallines. The Hermitage of San Antonio was rebuilt in 1713; its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross.

In the Barrio de San Pedro stands a medieval hermitage dedicated to Saint Peter. It features late Romanesque elements that may date from the 13th century. These were probably preceded by a pre-Romanesque building phase. The possible dating and the earlier building phase remain distinct indications of the building’s history.

The hermitage dedicated to Santa Cruz on Monte Corona lies on the present-day municipal boundaries of Valdáliga and Udías. It is a ruin; worship there was discontinued in 1975 after a forest fire left it unusable. The hermitage was probably used by the inhabitants of Caviedes since time immemorial.

Historic Houses

Civic buildings are also part of Caviedes’ character. The Casa solariega de los Pérez de la Canal manor house in Caviedes bears a coat of arms. The Casa torre de los Rubín de Celis can be seen in Caviedes. The Casa-Torre de Caviedes is part of Valdáliga’s civic architectural heritage. Together with the religious buildings, these houses give the town’s cultural and historical attractions a distinctively civic dimension.

Discover more destinations: Villapresente, Valdáliga, Villamoñico, Proaño, Val De San Vicente, Hazas De Cesto, Torices, Orejo

For the broader travel overview: Cantabria.