Somiedo

Its entire territory is within the Somiedo Natural Park, which has also been declared a Biosphere Reserve. In the capital of the municipality, Pola de Somiedo, is located the Reception and Interpretation Centre of the Park, which is a first approach to the natural, rural and geographical environment of the area, which has a specific ecosystem that is 'genetically imprinted' with the mark of the Cantabrian brown bear, whose Foundation also has its headquarters in Somiedo.

A land of pastures and 'brañas', of 'vaqueiros', of 'cabanas de teito' - dwellings where people and livestock lived together - whose essence is revealed in the Ecomuseum, which has two sites, one in Pola and the other in Las Veigas. Orographically, Somiedo is very rich: five valleys make up its geomap: the Pigüeña Valley, where Villar de Vildas, Exemplary Village of Asturias and gateway to the Braña de la Pornacal, is located; the Somiedo Valley; the Lake Valley, with the route to Lago del Valle; the Saliencia Valley, with its three lakes that make up a unique landscape and where the Farrapona pass, a mythical cycling ascent, is located; and Las Morteras.

Somiedo has been and is a connection with the Meseta, mainly through its pass, and the Romans understood this, which is why it is part of the itinerary of the ancient road that we know as Camín Real de la Mesa. There are also many villages of great beauty such as Perlunes or La Peral, with its viewpoint of El Príncipe, without forgetting Aguino. A place where the Asturiana de los Valles grazes at ease, it is also ideal for sport in its many forms: walking, cycling or horse riding, hunting and fishing, cross-country skiing, etc., and if it is a question of culture, it has its own Illustrado, because Alvaro Flórez Estrada was born in Pola de Somiedo...

Population: 1,544 inhabitants
Surface area: 291.38 ^km2