Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Buspol
Buspol is part of the parish of A Mesa, which belongs to the Asturian council of Grandas de Salime, in the Navia Historical Park region. As one of the five population centres within the parish, alongside El Toucedo, Valiamayor, A Mesa, and El Vilar de Buspol. Its name, derived from the Latin combustum, refers to livestock areas and forests for agricultural use. Other etymological studies suggest a connection with bopis, meaning oxen, signifying a relationship with cattle.
The roots of Buspol reach back to the Neolithic period, evident in the wealth of tombs and megalithic structures that still dot the landscape. During the Middle Ages, La Mesa, including Buspol, fell under the jurisdiction of the Bishopric of Oviedo until the 13th century when a Papal bull granted the inhabitants juridical-administrative independence, leading to the formation of the council of Salime.
Buspol has historical significance as the site of a pilgrims' hospital, providing accommodation for those traversing the Primitive Way, the route of St. James from Oviedo to Compostela through the interior of Galicia and Asturias.
Monuments in Buspol include two distinctive structures: the old pilgrims' hospital and the Chapel dedicated to Santa Marina and Santa María Magdalena. The latter, known as the chapel of Santa Marina de Buspol, was built in the 14th century as part of the hospital complex, and now stands as a symbol of the Primitive Way, recognised as an Architectural Heritage Site of Asturias. This small masonry construction features a single nave with a quadrangular floor plan and a three-sided roof. The façade is adorned with a tympanum of plank and a belfry housing one of the oldest bronze bells in Asturias, dating back to 1327. Inside, a polychrome rustic altarpiece showcases the images of Santa Marina and Santa María Magdalena.