Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Labra
With exceptional views of the western massif of the Picos de Europa and the Corao Valley, the village of Labra stands on the fertile banks of the Chico River. This village is known for the wealth of its monuments and the beautiful panoramic views that can be seen from this part of the hillside.
The 16th-century Pendás Tower stands in perfect harmony with its magnificent natural surroundings. This stately tower, built in masonry and structured on three floors, retains its original arrow slits, reflecting its historic purpose. Originally, the tower belonged to the Labra family, whose coat of arms is preserved on the façade of the mansion. Today the tower serves as a symbol of the Labra family's involvement in the livestock sector and is home to a cheese dairy that produces the regional Gamonéu cheese.
Next to the tower is the 17th-century Labra Palace. This is a rural Asturian Baroque-style construction. This palace belonged to the Soto Cortés family from 1607. The Labra Palace used to be home to one of the largest bibliographic and antiquities collections in Spain. The collection featured a large set of well-preserved Asturian archaeological pieces and a library covering a wide variety of topics such as fencing, hunting, equestrianism, nature, art, as well as archaeology, architecture, history, and museum and city guides, to name just a few. On the plot of the main house stands a tower dating from the Middle Ages. This tower is attached to the western tower and the central body that connects them, which were added later in the second half of the 17th century. The palace complex also includes the 17th-century Chapel of Santa Rosa de Vitervo, which was dismantled and moved stone by stone in 1975 from its original location in Corao. During the work to move it, the granary that now stands in front of the mansion was moved. Today, this palace is home to some splendid sculptures by Salvador Dalí.
Labra is also home to the Church of San Bartolomé, a generous donation from the Labra Palace in the 20th century. This church, designed with a single nave in the shape of a Latin cross and an irregular apse, exudes strength with its buttresses and lateral porches. Noteworthy features include its historicist façade, a spacious bell gable adorned with two openings housing two bells, and the Latin cross topping the church.
Labra's heritage is epitomised by the houses that make up the village, showcasing admirable examples of Asturian popular architecture. As well as the granary situated in front of Labra Palace, the village boasts other excellent examples of different types of granary (hórreos and paneras) dotted around. One interesting feature is the granary decorated with a bell made from a Spanish Civil War shell. This bell was used to summon the village folk and it replaced the church bell when it broke. They used to gather by the "Rumierin" granary, at the entrance to the village when you arrive from Tárano.
The Cuevona de la Caleya, to the northeast of Labra village is worth a visit. It is a natural cave that was used by the people of Labra as an air-raid shelter during the Spanish Civil War.
Economic activity in Labra, up until the 21st century, has primarily revolved around livestock, predominantly in a communal system called en comuña in local speech. In this communal setup, the profits and whatever they made from this work were shared equally among the residents. Furthermore, a significant number of Labra's inhabitants emigrated to America in pursuit of better opportunities. In contemporary times, Labra has shifted its focus to the hospitality sector. Additionally, Labra is part of the route of the Villa de Llanes Rally, a competition that has been passing through the village since 1977.
On the third Sunday of September, Labra commemorates the Ramos festival with great reverence. The festivities include a high mass, a procession accompanied by bagpipes and drums, followed by an orchestra and dance and a vermouth session. Additionally, the celebration of San Bartolo (Saint Bartholomew), the patron saint of the church, has been reinstated, and a procession to the beat of bagpipes and drums, along with a high mass, takes place in August.