Castro de Cabo Blanco

On the coast of western Asturias there are several dozen castro settlements that made use of the abrupt line of sea cliffs to favour their defence.

The settlement of Cabo Blanco is a magnificent example of this type of site and is one of the largest in the region, with a surface area of almost 6 hectares.

Its position facilitates the defence of the settlement and offers a wide visual domain, both on the sea horizon and on the continental shelf.

Originally, during the Iron Age (8th-1st centuries BC), the protected area was limited to the narrow arm of land that forms the cape, but over time, probably in Roman times, it extended over the mainland, forming a vast enclosure defended by a monumental parapet which, in the sections that are still preserved, is more than 4 m high.

Between 2005 and 2009 archaeological excavations were carried out under the direction of José Antonio Fanjul Mosteirín, Álvaro Menéndez Granda and Á. Villa Valdés, which uncovered a dense network of buildings erected between the 5th century BC and the 1st century AD and a powerful wall with a modular structure, characteristic of the pre-Roman towns of Asturias. With the exception of the large moats, the remains uncovered are not visible today as they were reburied after excavation.

How to get there: N-634. At Valdepares turn off to the north towards Fonfría. One kilometre of country road leads to the castro.