A trip to Voto can be planned around two different interests: cultural history, which can be explored through cave finds and historic buildings in San Pantaleón de Aras, and quad tours with sections through wooded terrain. If you are looking for accommodation in Voto, start by choosing a focus: should your trip be primarily about archaeology and architectural history, or would you also like to plan an active tour? The places and activities offer different ways to explore both interests.
Cave Finds and Early Evidence
Cueva de la Chora is one of the significant caves in San Pantaleón de Aras. It was used by groups of people around 13,500 to 8,000 years ago. A layer from Magdalenian VI, containing several examples of portable art, has also been documented in the cave. “Portable art” refers to movable works of art, as distinct from depictions fixed to a cave wall. The cave thus adds an archaeological perspective to the cultural history of the area, while churches and houses offer a different, architectural perspective.
Church, Houses and Tower Remains
The Iglesia de San Pantaleón de Aras has a Latin cross ground plan; construction began in the 15th century in the Gothic style. In a Latin cross ground plan, the church’s spaces form the shape of a cross on the plan. Casa de Sebastián de Albear is dated to 1638. This places two different dates side by side: the start of construction in the 15th century and a specific year assigned to the house.
The medieval Torre de Viluma, whose remains survive in San Pantaleón de Aras, is considered the ancestral home of the Alvear family. A different architectural form is found in the private Casa de Pantaleón de Alvear: a rectangular ashlar building with small towers at the corners. At Castillo de Mazarredonda, visible remains of a roughly rectangular underground tower structure survive. The castle is one of the fortifications in the Asón Valley, whose origins may date to the early Middle Ages. These examples allow architectural form and dating to be considered separately: the corner turrets characterize the house, while at the castle, attention is drawn to the visible tower structure and its cautiously attributed origins.
Quad Tours as an Active Option
The quad tours cross Tibetan bridges, muddy sections and slides, as well as heavily wooded areas with expansive views. Obstacles and terrain shape the tour just as much as the wooded stretches. Route conditions may change, so check the latest information before setting out. This allows you to plan the active excursion as a separate focus of your trip, alongside your interest in cave finds and architectural history.
Discover more destinations: San Miguel De Aras, Val De San Vicente, Ontón, Santa María De Cayón, Orzales, Medio Cudeyo, El Astillero, Rionansa
For the regional travel overview: Cantabria.
