After a stop here we followed the distinctive Camino de Covadonga sign out of the village and along the river bank. A well made path (GR-109) known as the Camino de la Reina because Isabella ll followed this route in the 1800s. There was one place where water from the hillside was flowing across the path and made it slippery, but we passed with care.
The camino passes into Cangas de Onis along the river, but there are also signs into town up steps at a bridge. We chose this route as we did not know exactly where our hotel was. The road led us past the ancient Capilla de Santa Cruz, which we wanted to see but expected to be closed. To our delight it was open (€2 euros each) with a film show explaining its history and also of the dolmen over which it is built. The dolmen can be seen as the floor has been cut away. Pelayo's 'Cross of Victory' was kept here for some time as Cangas de Onis was capital of Asturias when Pelayo was king. A replica of the cross hangs on the Puente Romana - the Roman bridge in the middle Cangas.
The information office further into Cangas gave us maps of the city, a designation given and retained as the old capital. There is a lovely park area behind the information centre, by the river, but we didn't stop for long as we needed lunch and to walk a little further along the river to our hotel, the Aguila Réal.
Villanueva:-
Looking down to the old monastery and the Parador
The bridge over the Sella, with the cafe at the far end
The path follows the river between Villanueva and Cangas de Onis
Cangas de Onis:-
The capilla de Santa Cruz
The river-side park,
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