Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Dolia
Dolía is a village pertaining to Belmonte, in the parish of Belmonte de Miranda.
The village is characterised by houses of traditional Asturian mountain architecture. The chapel of Saint Benedict stands out among these bucolic-looking buildings.
To the east runs the river Dolía, which shares its name with the village, while to the south rises the Alto de la Corredoria, a mountain pass that climbs to more than 870 metres above sea level.
Dolía belongs to the Camino Real de la Mesa, a long-distance footpath that follows the old Roman road that linked Asturias with León. It was the escape route that the Berber chief Munuza tried to take after being defeated by Don Pelayo at the Battle of Covadonga.
The remains of the fortification from which the territory of the area was controlled between the 8th and 12th centuries can still be found on Cervera Peak.
Next to the Alto de la Corredoria is the Venta de la Correderia, an old inn that has been converted into a stable. It is located in a strategic area between the transition from mountain to agricultural zones.
The inn became less important in the 18th century, with the construction of the Castile Road, as it was forced to close for much of the year due to adverse weather conditions.
Among the vegetation in the area, common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) stand out from other species. The latter was highly valued in rural areas due to its enormous versatility, as the wood is used to make tools and for fuel, while their leaves can be used to feed livestock.