What to see in Colombres, the village of Indiano houses
This blog post delves into Asturias’s Indiano legacy and reveals everything you should see in Colombres to learn more about this architectural style.
The parish of Colombres is the capital of Ribadedeva region in the east of Asturias and is close to the border with Cantabria. Colombres became famous in 2015 when it won the Exemplary Town of Asturias Award, a prize that is awarded by the Princess of Asturias Foundation and presented to winners by the King and Queen of Spain.
History of Colombres
Colombres’s history is closely linked to the Indianos, Spaniards who emigrated to Latin America at the end of the 19th century and built huge houses and palaces on their return to Spain. These houses are known as Indiano houses.
Although you’ll find stories of emigrants to the Americas in every corner of Spain, the name Indiano generally refers to coastal areas of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country and the Canary Islands.
Indianos returned to their homeland and invested in charitable works, such as founding schools and building roads, and constructed characteristic mansions using architectural ideas inspired by the Americas.
The Ribadedeva region where Colombres is located appears in documents as far back as the 13th century. Several centuries later, in 1517, Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, stayed in Colombres on his first trip to Spain before he became king.
But Ribadedeva experienced its greatest change when many of its inhabitants emigrated to the Americas at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century.
Indiano Archive Foundation and Museum of Emigration
The Indiano Archive Foundation and Museum of Emigration was created in light of the importance of emigration and the Indianos to Asturias. It contains a wealth of documents related to the study of emigration to the Americas.
Naturally, the foundation is in an Indiano house, the Quinta Guadalupe, which was built in 1906 by Colombres-born Íñigo Noriega Laso, an emigrant to Mexico.
The Indiano Archive Foundation aims to retrieve and study documents related to Asturian and Spanish emigration to the Americas; the Museum of Emigration pays tribute to and remembers those who decided to set off in search of a better life.
The Museum of Emigration has fascinating spaces that focus on emigration to different Latin America countries, including Cuba, Mexico, Chile and Argentina, among others. What’s more, the interior of the Quinta Guadalupe has been refurbished in period style, with original furniture and decorations.
Indiano houses
Colombres has been made an Asset of Cultural Interest due to its exceptional Indiano architecture, a feature of many Asturian villages. This small village has some of the finest examples of Indiano houses in Asturias, including:
- La Casona and La Quinta de Guadalupe by Íñigo Noriega.
- Ribadedeva Council, which could easily belong in a city.
- La Casa Roja, used for filming the series “La Señora”.
- La Mansión del Abuelo, one of the oldest.
- La Casa de Piedra by the Sánchez Escalante family, now the Casa de la Cultura.
- Finca Las Raucas, used by boards of directors of Banco Hispanoamericano.
- Casas Gemelas by Florencio Noriega, the second oldest.
It’s a great idea to visit Colombres and join a tour of the Indiano houses that takes you to over ten of these remarkable buildings.
Ribadedeva region
Colombres is a parish and is the municipal capital of Ribadedeva region. The municipality has 1,700 inhabitants and borders Llanes to the west, Peñamellera Baja to the south and Val de San Vicente in Cantabria to the east, separated by the Deva River, the natural border between Asturias and Cantabria.
Several parts of the municipality are in protected zones, such as the Protected Landscape of Sierra del Cuera and the Protected Landscape of the East Coast of Asturias. This pristine coastal area is one of Asturias’s gems and is home to emblematic places such as Gulpiyuri Beach and the Arenillas and Santiuste blowholes.
Pilgrims also pass through Ribadedeva when they follow the Way of the North to Santiago de Compostela. Colombres is 473 km from Santiago.
Where to eat in Colombres
It’s easy to eat well anywhere in Asturias and Colombres is no exception. Below is a selection of good restaurants in Colombres and the surrounding area:
- El Llagar de Keira: cider house with a lovely garden where you can eat outside in summer, it serves grilled food and Asturian classics such as cachopo (fried breaded beef fillet with ham and cheese) and fabes (bean stew).
- Onde Coty: the bar of the municipal pool, it has a big terrace and a varied menu with platters, hot dishes, salads, grilled seafood and meat.
- El Mansolea: this restaurant is in Pimiango and is a reference point in the area, serving generous portions of home-made food.
- Casa Seín: traditional restaurant founded in 1963 in the far east of the region. It’s in the hamlet of Bustio by the Deva River. It specialises in fish and seafood, stews and meat.
What to see nearby
Ribadedeva region has lots of attractions and places of interest alongside Colombres. You can enjoy beaches such as Franca Beach, one of the most famous in the east of Asturias and a safe beach to visit with children. Small Oso Beach is next to it, and the beaches at El Vivero and Rejolguero are also popular.
Another big attraction of Ribadedeva and eastern Asturias is the Cueva del Pindal, a cave in the hamlet of Pimiango. It’s 400 m long and contains around five hundred paintings that transport you 14,000 years back in time. The Cueva del Pindal is a National Monument
and is in Cabo de San Emeterio, so you could easily combine your trip to the cave with a walk along the coastal cliffs and a visit to the church of Santa María de Tina or Tina Monastery.
Where to stay in Asturias
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Asturias, look no further than the Barceló Oviedo Cervantes, a five-star hotel in the heart of Oviedo, just a few minutes’ walk from emblematic Calle Uría, Teatro Campoamor and Campo San Francisco.
The hotel has 82 guest rooms and is in a mansion dating from the beginning of the 20th century. This historic building was refurbished and its original character perfectly combines with the hotel’s modern style. Choose from a wide range of room types, including suites and family rooms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth visiting Colombres?
Colombres is a fascinating place to visit because it has a large number of Indiano houses, the Museum of Emigration and is set on the spectacular east coast of Asturias.
How do you get to Colombres?
To get to Colombres take exit 277 off the A-8 motorway. It’s 125 km from Oviedo.
What should you see in Colombres in a day?
You should see the Indiano houses, the Museum of Emigration, Cueva del Pindal, the church of Santa María de Tina and Tina Monastery.