Ports of Marabio

Latitude: 43.1696281 Length: -6.0959530
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Its highest point is Picu Caldoveiro , a peak that reaches 1351 meters in altitude. An old royal road crossed the Marabio mountain passes, serving as a route for the pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela: the French Way, which, starting from Oviedo, ascended to the passes from Sograndio to then connect with the Roman road of La Mesa and cross the mountain range through the pass of the same name, in Somiedo.

Taken together, it also comprises a valuable hydrogeological network of sinkholes and blind valleys. This karst system covers more than 1.225 hectares. This is one of the many environmental merits for which it has been declared a Natural Monument of Asturias . The area contains numerous underground caves , many of which are interconnected. This is the case in the Vegalonga system, which has an internal network extending nearly 6.000 meters, and the Vistulaz Cave, which is 3.000 meters long. Surface water also accumulates here, creating beautiful lagoons such as Barrera, Vega Castro, Foslayegua, and Tambaisna.

We can drive right up to the mountain pass , and once there, choose from various routes without needing a specific itinerary. It's a matter of strolling through the mountains or cycling along the numerous trails that start from the pass and wind through the mountain pastures and hills of the surrounding hills. In every case, we'll find breathtaking promontories offering quintessential Asturian panoramas: native mountains dotted with livestock. The Marabio pastures are frequented by horses, but especially by cattle. The cows raise and nurse their calves freely in an environment that is ideal for the genetic qualities of the "Asturian Veal" brand, which is why many farmers choose Marabio as the perfect location for summer grazing.

As we reach the summit of Marabio, ascending from Teverga, the first thing we encounter on our right is the small hermitage of Santa Ana , the starting point for many possible routes. It boasts an enviable location, literally perched above a breathtaking valley. From here, we can embark on a unique cycling route along one of the tracks or grazing paths that lead east or southeast, where we'll discover remnants of the Roman Royal Road of La Mesa . To the south, we'll come across old shepherds' pastures, most of their huts in ruins , before reaching the Porcabezas mountain range or the Cueiro ridge, where the Taxa and Prau meadows are located. Whichever path we choose, it's difficult to get lost, as we're always gaining altitude and have a good view of the return journey to the starting point. However, since we're always around 1.000 meters in altitude, we must always be careful of fog, which can appear unexpectedly.

Near the aforementioned Santa Ana hermitage, on the other side of the road, there is an information panel explaining the route through the Pico Caldoveiro Protected Landscape . This is a must-do route that will take about four hours (round trip). For the first part of the hike, the track runs parallel to the road, with views of the Piedralonga and Pradongo pastures at the bottom of the valley. After 2,5 kilometers, the path leading to the summit of Pico Caldoveiro (1.357 m) appears next to a small farmhouse. The route continues and crosses the road as it heads south towards the Villamayor mountain pasture (where there is a spring). We continue along the track to the vicinity of the Santa Cristina hermitage. The Murias mountain pasture is the next destination of the hike. It's not far now before we reach the road that climbs back up to the Marabio pass, to return to the Santa Ana hermitage, where we started.