Capital of the municipality of Ribadedeva, this town could have become an important city if the intentions of its most illustrious citizens had continued. Those who returned with fortune from America spared no resources to make their hometown bigger and more prestigious. That is why its physiognomy and its history cannot be separated from the indian legacy, full of stories of overseas and sacrifice. But Colombres is also an ideal starting point to explore a territory full of other cultural attractions and with an enviable nature.
What are the indianos in Asturias?
The Indians are the nickname they received those young Asturians who during the second half of the XNUMXth century and the first half of the XNUMXth were forced to emigrate to America. Some managed to prosper and make wealth and others not so much. Those who succeeded, on their return from Havana, Mexico, Argentina... built small palaces and mansions known today as "casas de indianos". In addition, they used part of their fortune to build schools, streets, squares and gardens, to make their towns the most beautiful and appreciated in Asturias.
Colombres is an authentic open-air museum where Indian architecture reaches its greatest expression. The inhabitants of this town, indebted to the indianos, celebrate every month of July The Indian Fair. The streets are adorned with colonial decoration and many participants dress in period clothing; a market full of stalls inspired by overseas products is set up, concerts of Latin American music, habaneras, theatrical performances, street entertainment, conferences, exhibitions, etc. are given.
Exemplary Town of Asturias
Precisely for having known how to preserve the legacy of the emigrants, Colombres was declared Well of Cultural Interest in 2013. And not only that, in 2015 the Kings of Spain gave him the award of Exemplary Town, among other things for enriching this legacy, maintaining its heritage and claiming emigration as a dynamic element of culture, economy and society.
The Indianos Archive
The Archivo de Indianos-Museum of Emigration foundation is the jewel of Colombres. Perhaps the quintessential Indian mansion in all of Asturias, both for its size and for the beauty of its construction and for its stately grounds and gardens. East fabulous building dates from 1906 and bears the name of Quinta Guadalupe in honor of the founder's wife, Iñigo Noriega Laso. In the 80s, at the initiative of the Principality of Asturias and the University of Oviedo, it was assigned to the headquarters of the Archivo de Indianos Foundation. Its interior is dazzling, with the solidity provided by the best and most exotic construction materials. Some rooms have been rebuilt with period furniture. The rest of the building is occupied by a permanent exhibition on the different aspects of emigration, with a specialized library and a large documentary archive about the social centers of Spanish emigration.
Archives of Indians
The Asturian emigration to America at the end of the XNUMXth century and the beginning of the XNUMXth century was quite a ...
Where are the Indian houses?
The buildings around the beautiful elliptical square of Colombres, such as the Town Hall, the Baroque-inspired Church, or the Quinta de Guadalupe are due to American money. The Indian architecture of Colombres is not copied from any other, it is a new entity that is worth discovering. through this signposted route we discover more than a dozen very representative and very beautiful constructions. The best thing to do this itinerary of Indian houses is to let yourself go. They are all quite close to each other and easily recognizable by striking and exotic.
Route of the indianos' houses
Monumental facades, ornate fences, galleries, patios, balconies, dreamy doorways, chapels...
What to see near Colombres?
Although Colombres is the capital of a small municipality, barely 36 square kilometers, its location and its attractions are impressive. Halfway between Llanes and Cantabria, between the Cantabrian Sea and the Sierra del Cuera, it has places recognized as World Heritage Sites, such as the Pindal Caves, a cave sanctuary located in the village of Pimiango, related to mystical and supernatural matters. Paintings and engravings that grew in number and artistic quality generation after generation, over 50 centuries.
Cueva del Pindal, a rock sanctuary
Since prehistory was seen in the lands of today's Ribadedeva, a lot of time has passed, so much...
Also very close to the town of Pimiango we can approach the Hermitage of San Emeterio, the lighthouse of the same name and the interpretation center. We cross a small valley near the sea, very appropriate in other times for Christian recollection. In the porch of the San Emeterio hermitage, from the 100th century, a scene from “El Abuelo”, by Jose Luis Garci, was filmed. About XNUMX meters from the hermitage is the interpretation Center of the environment and the Cueva del Pindal. Also exists in this environment an old lighthouse, still active.
The Picú Viewpoint, very close to here, offers excellent panoramic views of the Cantabrian Sea and the Picos de Europa.
Thanks to a small hiking trail we can reach the Tub Monastery. We cross a forest of oaks and a winding road with views of the Pimiango cliffs, until we reach this enigmatic and precious place. The ruins of this church are believed to be from the XNUMXth century.
La Franca Beach It is undoubtedly the most attractive beach and closest to the center of Colombres. It is, in turn, the easternmost beach in Asturias and one of the most beautiful and widest on the Cantabrian Coast.
Beach of La Franca
La Franca beach is located near the town of the same name, at the mouth of the…
At the nearby mouth of the Deva River, in the Tina Mayor estuary, flow into all the waters coming from the eastern, central and part of the western massifs of the Picos de Europa. The estuary breaks the high coast, creating a dizzying landscape in the immediate vicinity and an immense marsh in the lower part.
Mouth of the river Deva
All the waters from the eastern, central and part of the massifs reach the Tina Mayor estuary.
Colombres and the Camino de Santiago
The pilgrims who travel the Camino del Norte along the coast will enter Colombres, the arrival point of the stage (about 28 km) that starts from Quotation marks and exit point of the stage Colombres – Llanes (23 km). The distance that separates Colombres from Santiago de Compostela is 473 kilometers.
The Camino de Santiago in Asturias
Although the Camino de Santiago on its Asturian side is less traveled compared to other routes of...
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
