Carreño: Clarín’s Literary Legacy and Megalithic Traces

For Leopoldo Enrique García-Alas Ureña, known as “Clarín,” Carreño was his summer residence for almost his entire life. The place inspired a substantial part of his literary work. You can explore this connection along the Ruta Clariniana, through a landscape where literary history and older architectural forms meet.

In Clarín’s Footsteps and Along Historic Routes

The Ruta Clariniana consists of three sections: Doña Berta is 3.5 kilometres long, Viaje Redondo 8.3 kilometres, and Boroña 2.2 kilometres. The routes therefore vary considerably in length: Viaje Redondo is the longest section, and Boroña the shortest. Along the route are Romanesque churches, homes built by emigrants who returned, and paneras decorated in the Carreño style. The landscape also includes Clarín’s country estate, manor houses, palaces, medieval remains, mills and fountains. Check local conditions before setting out.

The Camino de Santiago also passes through Carreño: it runs from the foothills of Monte Areo through the Carreño valley to Tamón, where it joins the French Way towards Avilés. Views of hórreos and paneras painted in the Carreño style, watermills, manor houses and palaces characterise this route. If you plan to follow it, check the waymarking and local conditions before setting out.

The Iglesia de Santa María de Llorgozana offers another architectural detail. It has an Asturian pre-Romanesque window and a doorway with geometric zigzag ornamentation.

Megalithic Sites on Monte Areo

The megalithic tumulus necropolis of Monte Areo is one of the most significant concentrations of burial mounds on the Asturian coast. More than 30 burial mounds are spread across the areas of Los Llanos and Les Huelgues de San Pablo. The number of mounds and the two named areas give the site a clear structure.

The site can be visited free of charge and independently. A paved path leads to the upper plateau of Monte Areo, where the megalithic structures are located. If you plan to include this visit, check local conditions in advance.

Sculpture and Industrial History

The Museo Antón is dedicated to the sculptor Antonio Rodríguez García and sculpture in all its forms of expression. It is housed in the 18th-century Estrada-Nora Villa, with outdoor sculptures in the surrounding garden. The building and garden offer two different perspectives on sculpture.

The permanent exhibition on Candás’s canning industry offers a different perspective on local history. It is housed in the former cistern of the Bernardo Alfageme canning and cider factory. Original objects and models illustrate the history of canning in the town. This includes traditional methods of preservation: chilling, curing or drying, salting and pickling.

Festival, Coast and Wildlife Watching

The Festival de la Sardina takes place every year on 1 August in Candás and is recognised as a festival of tourist interest by the Principality of Asturias. Sardines are grilled at local stalls along the Paseo de San Antonio. As the festival takes place on a fixed annual date, it is worth confirming the programme for your travel year.

Surfers visit Playa de Xivares throughout the year. The route to the La Granda reservoir offers a different nature experience: it leads through attractive scenery where you can observe the wildlife of Cabo Peñas, particularly migratory birds. Birdwatching opportunities may vary with the seasons.

Los Pilares de Carreño offers a circular route of about 15 kilometres with a low level of difficulty, passing more than 24 tourist attractions in Carreño. Along the way, you can see more than 30 hórreos and paneras designed in the Carreño style, four historically significant churches, various fountains and traditional washhouses, as well as a 13th-century tower. The company also rents electric bicycles; confirm availability before your trip.

When planning your stay, keep in mind the different timing factors: the festival’s fixed date, seasonal changes in wildlife-watching opportunities, and routes that vary clearly in length. If you are looking for a hotel in Carreño, you can plan your outings around what matters most to you: a particular date, wildlife watching or a route.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Candás, Guimarán, Perlora, Calle De La Vega, Dormon, Belmonte De Miranda, El Franco, Morcín.

For the regional travel overview: Asturias.