Hermitage of La Magdalena (Morcín)

According to Christian tradition, it is believed that the holy relics were hidden in the summit of the Monsacro, which were taken there during the Muslim invasion by Santo Toribio, bishop of Astorga.

Later, Alfonso II the Chaste would have transferred the relics to the Cathedral of Oviedo/Uviéu. This consideration of the Monsacro as a sacred place would have led to the construction of the hermitages. The hermitage of La Magdalena, or Capilla de Abajo, is a late Romanesque construction from the 13th and 14th centuries. It has a single nave and semicircular apse with a difference in height between the nave and the apse. The openings in the gable and apse were opened in recent times.

There are no decorative elements on the exterior except for the corbels at the top of the cornice and the entrance door. The latter has a semi-circular arch, roughly voussoired, resting on smooth imposts and jambs. The materials used in the construction are local masonry and ashlar for the corners, openings and doorway. Inside, the nave is covered with a pointed barrel vault and a half-sphere vault in the apse area.

This chapel is located very close to the chapel of Santiago.