The Cuevona de Cuevas del Agua (not to be confused with the Cuevona de Ardines, a rock art reference in the vicinity of Tito Bustillo), is one of the few examples worldwide of caves through which the asphalt winds.
The grandeur of its vaulted ceilings, illuminated for the greater enjoyment of driver and passengers, and the nearly 300-meter length of the passage offer an unprecedented sensation behind the wheel. It's easy to deduce that this immense cavern has always been the only access to the village of Cuevas del Agua . A passage that previously followed a track built by the residents, but which modernity and the urgency of transportation transformed into the final stretch of a local road that ends shortly after passing through the cave.
It preserves excellent limestone formations and is a privileged experimental field for young children, who, accompanied by their teachers, can begin their first exploration of an often inaccessible environment. It is easy to identify the different zones of the cave, those where life develops, whether at the edge of light, in total darkness, on land, or in water. Algae and fungi, lichens, mosses, and ferns are cataloged, always conditioned by the greater or lesser degree of light. The cave fauna is also studied: occasional visitors and those that inhabit it permanently, with special emphasis on bats. The children also take measurements of temperature, humidity, light, and other factors.
The town of Cuevas del Agua
The village of Cuevas enjoys a privileged location. Its enviable topography on the banks of the Sella River and at the foot of the mountains , combined with its unique access, makes it feel like a truly secluded village, where the hallmarks of rural life are preserved like few other places. It boasts the highest number of hórreos (traditional granaries) of any village in the municipality. Together with the nearby villages of Tresmonte and Xuncu, it offers numerous ethnographic features and examples of traditional architecture. This same principle applies to the Mill Route, a trail that starts in the village itself and is particularly interesting because it allows visitors to witness a demonstration of how these once-powerful watermills operated.
La Cuevona is, in short, the only passage to a place that is not inaccessible, but rather surprising, almost secret , where the tranquility is the same as centuries ago , and where houses and granaries coexist with the silent river, men on horseback, cows and chickens along the paths, hydrangeas and cabbages.
In this environment you can enjoy a snack, some wine or a few drinks in a relaxed atmosphere.
Cueva Linda beach bar
Cross the Cuevona and enjoy… Read more
La Cuevona de Ribadesella how to get there
Cuevas del Agua is a town of barely fifty inhabitants, about seven kilometers from the town of Ribadesella.
To get here, we start from the town center, cross the bridge towards the beach, and turn left at the first junction towards the Tito Bustillo Caves . About 900 meters further on, we pass through the villages of La Huertona and Sardalla ; about 700 meters further on, at the top of an uphill section, we find the sign for Cuevas del Agua . From this junction, we follow the road to the end.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
