The Gothic church of Santa María brings together several centuries of architectural and art history in Cañedo. The single-nave building, with three bays and a flat-ended chancel, was later extended with a private chapel; the main altarpiece combines works of art from different periods. A historic inn on the Camino de los Castellanos, heraldic houses and an old chestnut tree add further tangible points of reference for the history of the town. Cañedo can thus be explored through its buildings, their chronology and notable landmarks.
Santa María: Architecture and Works of Art
At Santa María, it is worth looking at the architecture and furnishings separately. The church has a single nave divided into three bays, and the chancel has a flat end. A private chapel was added on the Gospel side in the early 17th century, endowed by Juan Fernández de la Peña. The chapel adds a private foundation from the early 17th century to the building’s history.
The main altarpiece is a neoclassical work from the early 19th century. It contains twelve oil-painted panels from an older altarpiece. A Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary from the 14th century stands in the central niche; the altarpiece also features a Calvary scene from the mid-16th century. The different dates of creation make the furnishings legible as an ensemble layered over time: the style and age of the individual works are not the same thing. In 1984, the Taller Itinerante de Restauración restored the main altarpiece and its paintings.
The Inn, Heraldic Houses and History
The historic inn Antigua Venta en el Camino de los Castellanos dates from 1754 and is associated with the Camino de los Castellanos. Its connection to the Camino adds another facet of local heritage to the architectural and art history of the church. Cañedo is also home to the heraldic houses La Peña and Zorrilla. They add heraldic buildings to the local picture.
Cañedo is also connected to Soba’s history during the Napoleonic Wars: Juan López Campillo used the valley as a base for attacks on French troops. This historical connection adds another perspective on the town’s past beyond its buildings.
Finding Your Way Around Cañedo and Its Surroundings
An old chestnut tree marks the boundary between the districts of Cañedo de Arriba and Cañado de Abajo. If you distinguish the two districts on a map, this boundary marker can help you find your way.
The Las Cabas viewpoint is on the road to Puerto de la Sía, about 3 km from La Gándara, and offers views of La Gándara, Cañedo, Quintana and the rest of the municipality. The chestnut tree helps you find your way between two districts; Las Cabas, by contrast, offers views of several named places and the municipal area.
The road designation CA-664, “Acceso a Cañedo,” is also a useful map reference. Together, these local landmarks and viewpoints offer various points of reference for planning: the architecture and art of Santa María, other named buildings in the town, and a viewpoint overlooking the municipal area.
Discover more destinations: Regules
Return to the main travel overview: Valcaba.
