The village of Cadavedo was awarded the prize for the most beautiful village in Asturias in 1954. It occupies the site of the former medieval port of Vallenarán, which was used for whaling. It is a small labyrinth of paved streets lined with stacked granaries , small houses with manicured gardens, and stately villas built by returning emigrants.
Cadavedo: The Regalina
We head closer to the coast, climbing to the so-called Chapel of La Regalina , where a festival declared of national tourist interest is celebrated , drawing hundreds of visitors each year. It is one of the most popular festivals in the Valdés municipality and a major cultural highlight of the Asturian summer. It was in 1931 that Father Galo, a poet and writer, founded this traditional pilgrimage. According to local lore, the Virgin of Regla, who gives the place its name, appeared in a chestnut tree, and a collection was taken up to acquire the land that is now the festival grounds, as well as to build the chapel.
Without going down to the beach yet, we can continue enjoying the upper coast. A little further west is Villademoros , where an ancient Roman tower stands, rebuilt by the Asturian kings in the 9th and 10th centuries.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
