Its proximity to the Picos de Europa National Park , just 18 kilometers from Cangas de Onís, its immediate location near the beautiful Sierra del Sueve mountain range, and its proximity to the coast, barely half an hour from the beaches of Ribadesella and Llanes, make it an unbeatable starting point for exploring the region and planning excursions. Arriondas is currently world-renowned for hosting the start of the International Descent of the Sella River . It boasts a thriving service and industrial sector, the latter primarily based on wood and furniture manufacturing.
It limits to the north with the councils of Colunga, Caravia and Ribadesella; to the south with those of Amieva and Ponga; to the east with Cangas de Onís; and to the west with the council of Piloña.
How to get to Arriondas
Its central-eastern location on the map, about 17 kilometers east and west of Piloña, makes it a necessary stop on the N-634 . From Oviedo, you can take the A-8 to Lieres and then turn off onto the N-634, passing through the towns of Nava, Infiesto, Villamayor, and Sevares. If you're coming from Santander, take the A-8 to Ribadesella, turn off there, and in the town of Llovio, take the N-634, which leads to Arriondas after 17 kilometers.
Distances
17 km. from Ribadesella // 8 km. from Cangas de Onís // 65 km. from Oviedo
What to see in Arriondas: old town
Arriondas, the main town of the Parres municipality and a key hub in eastern Asturias, rises amidst rivers and mountains as a place where lush nature and Asturian tradition converge with serene dignity. The town, besides being famous for hosting the start of the renowned International Descent of the Sella River every August —that river festival, a veritable pagan celebration that blends the sweat of the athletes with the cider of the rosemary fields— is also the gateway to the Picos de Europa National Park , and as such, boasts a wealth of landscapes and culture that cannot be taken lightly.
Anyone visiting Arriondas shouldn't miss a stroll along the banks of the Sella River , with its green spaces and bridges that allow you to appreciate the harmony between the water and the mountains. The Parque de la Concordia , where the Piloña and Sella rivers meet, has been a recreational area for locals and visitors alike since 1986 and features a unique sculpture by the Asturian artist Joaquín Rubio Camín. From this vantage point, you can glimpse the nearby summit of the Sierra del Sueve mountain range , a refuge for the Asturcón, a mythical and prehistoric horse.
Taking a stroll through the town, we can visit the Church of San Martín, with its 19th-century feel, and the old hospital, now a health center, which speak of a past that hasn't entirely faded away. And as a testament to the Indiano influence that shaped Asturian architecture between the 19th and 20th centuries, the mansion of the Marchioness of Argüelles, or Villa Juanita , stands out. Built at the top of the town, it boasts glassed-in galleries, a palm-filled garden, and that characteristic American melancholy of those who returned wealthy but not forgotten their roots. But perhaps Arriondas's greatest asset is its character as a crossroads: between the sea and the mountains, between tradition and the future, between the silence of the forest and the sound of canoes.
History of Arriondas
The oldest archaeological sites found in the council date back to the Paleolithic era.
During the Late Middle Ages, the manorial estates of Fuentes, Las Arriondas, and Llames de Parres were established. Inside the Church of San Miguel in Cofiñu, one can observe one of the finest examples of Asturian Romanesque art, dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, which scholars attribute to the best Romanesque workshops in the region. The first decade of the 19th century was marked by the War of Independence, a significant event being the destruction of the Royal National Tinplate Factory, the first known industry in the municipality. The arrival of the 20th century brought the railway line, finally completing the Oviedo-Santander line. All of this, combined with the influx of capital from the "Indianos" (Spaniards who had emigrated to the Americas and returned wealthy), led to a tremendous boom for the entire municipality.
Arriondas and Fíos are home to some of the most significant examples of Indiano architecture . Among others, the Valle chalet and Villa Juanita stand out in Arriondas. In Fíos, the Abarca chalet is the most notable.
Parres also boasts a significant ethnographic heritage . Picturesque villages like Cofiñu, Llames de Parres, Arenas de Parres, and San Martín de Bada offer important examples of vernacular architecture. Another interesting route through the history of the municipality is the one that follows the mills concentrated along the rivers of La Pontiga, Chicu, Mampodre, Viabañu, and Tresmonte.
Parres was a pioneer council also the tourist development of the Principality, mainly with the organization in 1930 of the first descent of the Sella, main party and event of the council and of Asturias.
Parties
- Santa Rita, in Arriondas, May 22
- El Bollu or La Peruyal, in Arriondas, last Sunday in July
The Bollu Festival
Declared a Regional Tourist Interest , the Bollu Festival is an essential event for discovering… Read more
- Virgin of Carmen, in Arriondas in July
- International Descent of the Sella River, in Arriondas, first Saturday in August
- Ramos in Llames and Castiello, September 4
- San Miguel in Cofiño, September 29
Markets
Chestnut and Orchard Contest
The central Venancio Pando Square in Arriondas hosts the annual celebration of this long-established event… Read more
Useful telephone numbers
Tourist Office: 985 84 17 12
Hospital of Arriondas: 985 84 13 55
Beautiful towns near Arriondas
[1] Ribadesella is an Asturian town that naturally blends sea and mountains , nestled beside the Sella estuary and open to the Cantabrian Sea. Its appeal lies in the balance between the historic center and Santa Marina beach , flanked by stately homes built by returning emigrants who spoke of another era. It is a place where history—from the Tito Bustillo cave paintings to the memory of the politician Divino Argüelles, a member of parliament in Cádiz and the principal architect of the 1812 Constitution—coexists with a tranquil tourism experience, linked to the landscape, the architecture, and the unhurried pace of life in northern Spain.
The village of Ribadesella
The town of Ribadesella is the capital of a municipality surrounded by mountains, beaches, and cliffs. Without going… Read more
[2] Cangas de Onís , the former capital of the Kingdom of Asturias, retains a symbolic value that goes far beyond its famous Roman bridge. Nestled among mountains and near Covadonga , it serves as a gateway to the Picos de Europa and is a must-see for those seeking to understand the connection between history, landscape, and tradition in eastern Asturias. Without ostentation, it offers a balanced blend of nature, heritage, and local life.
Cangas de Onís: basic information
Cangas de Onís is an emblematic place in the Principality of Asturias. It is famous for its perfectly preserved Roman bridge… Read more
[3] Llanes is a coastal town in eastern Asturias that has managed to maintain its character amidst growing tourism and a commitment to its landscape. With a well-preserved old town, a still-active port, and a coastline of beaches and cliffs that surprises with its variety, it offers an experience that goes far beyond the picture-postcard. Halfway between maritime and stately, Llanes is also the starting point for exploring a less obvious, but equally authentic, Asturias.
The town of Llanes
The town of Llanes, capital of the municipality of the same name, is the urban center of a vast territory… Read more
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
