In the heart of Asturias, the town of Arriondas has the privilege of not only being crossed by the well-known Sella River, but also of being able to closely observe the imposing Picos de Europa. This Asturian municipality is world-renowned for being the starting point of the famous Sella Descent, as well as the starting line for the competition that is held annually on the same route: the International Sella Descent. However, the thousands of visitors that the town welcomes each year have many other attractions to discover in its streets and surroundings. In this post, we’ll tell you what to see in Arriondas on your next trip!
What to Visit in Arriondas
- Chapel and Church of San Martín
Our route through Arriondas begins with a panoramic view of the town. To find it, we’ll have to go up to the higher part of the municipality. There, we’ll find the Chapel of Carmen or Chapel of San Martín, from the 14th century. And, in addition, we’ll enjoy unique views of everything there is to see in Arriondas and its surroundings. Once we’ve caught our breath and marveled at the views, it’s time to continue the route by descending to the Church of San Martín, the beautiful main church of Arriondas located on the main artery of the town: Argüelles Street.
- Concordia Park
Leaving aside the religious buildings, we continue the tour to one of Arriondas’ strong points: the Concordia Park. In a town where nature plays such an important role, green spaces are a must! This park is located between two extremely relevant rivers in the area, the Piloña River and the Sella River. In fact, to reach the park, we would have had to cross the Piloña River via one of the bridges in Arriondas. Once in the green area, we can rest in the picnic areas located there or enjoy the landscape and views: ideal for those looking for what to see in Arriondas with children.
- Argüelles Street and Its Indianos Houses
Now rested, we continue the visit by strolling along one of the most characteristic streets of Arriondas: Argüelles Street. On this street, you’ll find a large number of shops and establishments where you can enjoy local cuisine or a good cider. We recommend getting lost in the streets near Argüelles, such as Ramón del Valle Street, one of the things to do in Arriondas that you can’t miss. Moreover, the most striking feature: on this journey, you’ll find examples of architecture or Indianos houses. These types of constructions, typical of emigrants to South America who returned to Asturias with great fortunes, are of great importance in Arriondas. An example of this is Villa Juanita. A real beauty!
- La Llera Park and Venancio Pando Square
If your visit to Arriondas falls on a Saturday, don’t miss visiting La Llera Park. This is where the local market is held every Saturday: it’s always a good plan to browse the stalls! Continuing on, our tour is coming to an end as we reach the main square of Arriondas or Venancio Pando Square. In this square, you can admire the beautiful Parrés Town Hall (Council) and the cannon located right in front of it. This is the cannon that is fired every year to mark the start of the International Sella Descent! A true relic and symbol of the town.
- Bridge of the Canoes
At this point, if you feel like it, you can go to visit another spectacular Indianos house: the Chalet de los Valle (Europa Avenue, 18). And then, we’ll cross the most famous bridge in Arriondas: the Sella Bridge or Bridge of the Canoes. Yes! It’s from this bridge that all the competitors in the International Sella Descent start, and it’s on its sides where the Canoe Proclamation is read each year and where the large crowd of people gathers to see the beautiful spectacle.
Moreover, if you cross this bridge, you will reach the facilities of Cangas Aventura. Because, although the list of things to do in Arriondas is very long, you can’t miss out on the adventure of canoeing down the Sella River! This way, the experience will be complete.
Here you can find the entire tour of Arriondas!
What to See in Arriondas and Its Surroundings
In addition to everything Arriondas has to offer, as we mentioned at the beginning, the municipality is located in a privileged setting. Therefore, very close to the town, you can visit many places of interest. We leave you here a list of the must-sees to answer the question what to see near Arriondas!
- Cangas de Onís.
- Lakes and Sanctuary of Covadonga.
- Picos de Europa.
- Ribadesella: Experience the thrill of a jet ski route on the Cantabrian Sea.
- Bufones de Pría.
- Mirador del Fitu.
- Lastres.
Enjoy Your Vacation in Asturias!