Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Espinaredo
In the fertile plain of the Espinaredo River 8 km from Infiesto and 12 km from Villamayor, there is one of the most important historical villages of the Principality, Espinaredo or Espinaréu in Asturian. It is the largest parish in the Council of Piloña and the town of La Villa is known for having the largest number of hórreos and paneras (granaries on stilts) in Asturias.
The hórreos and paneras are rural structures used to store and preserve agricultural products like grain, vegetables, onions, potatoes, chestnuts, and hazelnuts and also to keep firewood dry in order to get through the winter. An "hórreo" is different from a "panera" by the number of feet or "pegoyos". Paneras have six or more. Also, a panera is usually larger in size and capacity than an hórreo, and has a hipped roof. Both are now recognised as part of the heritage of the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula.
There are a total of 20 hórreos and 6 paneras in Espinaréu. The first hórreos date back to the Renaissance, specifically the 16th and 17th centuries. On the other hand, the first paneras were built in the 18th and 19th centuries and they are thought to belong to the Maliayo style, an architectural style developed in Villaviciosa. Some of these structures have drawings and engravings that, according to legend, act as a mystical protection for whatever the hórreo holds.
There is an informational sign in the centre of the village including a map, helpful information, and the location of the hórreos (granaries). Special mention should be made of the "L' horru la capilla" panera, which was used to hold mass in the village.
Another example of the importance of agricultural in Espinaredo is the flour mills. There were six mills located along the Espinaredo River, however, only one of them is still in operation: the Molín del Ferrán or Molín de la Molinera.
The farmhouse is a traditional group of buildings, mostly built on the ground floor, with a whitewashed facade and wooden corridors. The Church of Our Lady of the Snows stands out from these mountain homes. Although it is not clear when it was built, it may date back to the 18th century and it is thought to have obtained parish status in 1892. Several modifications have been made over time, but it still has a Latin cross floor plan, buttresses at the corners that give it a robust appearance, a side portico, and is topped with a gabled roof and a belfry with two openings and a bell inside. There is a sash arch inside the church that separates the presbytery from the transept and the ceiling is decorated with a transept vault. Outside the church stands a well-preserved yew tree. The cemetery used to be nearby but was moved to the hill to the southeast after a flood.
Located in the recreational area of La Pesanca and the Miera Arboretum, another local attraction is found in this mountainous area. It is a trail that that heightens our senses and underscores the significance of nature in the area. It follows the Espinaredo River through a delightful forest of chestnut trees, hazelnut trees, and other riverside trees. The Espinaredo River is also a great salmon fishing river with regulated fishing areas.
Perhaps not as well known but still very interesting is the Peña Ferrán de Espinaredo Cave located where the Espinaredo River and the Oriello River meet. It is a small cave that was inhabited in prehistoric times during the Magdalenian and Neolithic periods. The findings, consisting of lithic industry, bone and faunal remains, are currently preserved in the Archaeological Museum of Oviedo. Close by are the Aviao Cave and the Collareu Cave which have been less extensively studied.
On August 6, Espinaréu holds a sacramental festivity in honour of the patron saint, Our Lady of the Snows. There is a procession, a wonderful offering of the bouquet, a solemn mass, and the religious festivities are accompanied by music.