Santo Medero

The route starts in the small village of Riañu, next to the church of San Martín, from where you take the road that leads to the cemetery of La Paerna. From the first few metres, the route heads north and gradually gains height, crossing areas of native vegetation with oak and chestnut trees, which offer shade in the initial sections. After passing the cemetery, the ascent becomes steeper, requiring greater physical effort.

The next milestone is La Pasera (Noreña), a village in the parish of Santa Marina made up of a few scattered houses. Here, the route eases off briefly, allowing us to catch our breath and enjoy the surroundings, before resuming the climb towards one of the most symbolic places on the route: the ruins of the chapel of Santo Medero. This space, intimately linked to the local religious tradition, stands as a point of collective memory in the middle of the mountain.

From the old chapel, the path gains slope and opens up towards a clearer landscape, where the nearby valleys and surrounding mountains begin to come into clear view. Almost at the end of the route, we reach the area known as La Teyerona, where we find a small recreational area, before tackling the final stretch towards the summit.

The ascent culminates at Pico Melero, also known as Santo Medero, the highest peak in the council of Noreña. From its summit, the views extend in all directions, allowing you to identify nearby towns and appreciate the vastness of the Asturian landscape.

The descent continues along a path that alternates stretches of forest and open areas until it reaches Villa, where the Camposagrado Palace is located, declared a Historic-Artistic Monument. This former ancestral home of the Bernaldo de Quirós family has an adjoining chapel dedicated to San Cristóbal. From here, there is only a short stretch to return to the starting point, next to the church of San Martín, thus closing a short but intense route, which unites nature, tradition and panoramic views in a quiet and little-travelled environment. Ideal for those looking for a short walk with a visual and emotional reward.