At our feet stretches the beach of Santa Marina. It is more than just a beach, it combines heritage, history, tourism, society and ecology. Until the XNUMXth century it remained wild, close to an extensive wetland -El Malecón- that offers an ideal habitat for numerous species of migratory birds. From our privileged viewpoint we can see both areas. the sandbank is flanked by Mount Somos and Corberu, and we are located on the third promontory that surrounds the entire environment: the mount of ardines.
The first urban colonization of the beach was due to the commissioning of the metal bridge over the estuary in 1898. This is how the modernist villas, mansions and chalets that we see today from our vantage point. It is a vision that retains all its charm and that gives Santa Marina beach the quality of a unique postcard in the entire Cantabrian Sea. In the sixties and seventies of the XNUMXth century, the entire sandbank was completed, leaving the town configured as we know it today.
The town of Ribadesella was an important whaling enclave and in the XNUMXth century it tried to establish itself as the best Asturian port for liaison with Castile, but, perhaps due to the influence of Jovellanos, the investments went to the port of Gijón.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com