In La Caridad, cultural sites meet trails with different profiles: the Ruta urbana por A Caridá is a short walk through the town, while the marked Senda Verde del Río Mazo is longer. The themes also range from handcrafted iron objects to traditional architecture and historic working life. You can tailor your stay to the discoveries that interest you most.
Culture and History in A Caridá
The Museo de la Forja is located in the center of A Caridá (La Caridad), in the Casa de Arte Mohíces. It displays iron furniture and household items handcrafted by Ángel Fernández López in his forge. The exhibits thus bring together crafts and objects for everyday use. Those interested in traditional trades will find a different theme at the Belén Popular Asturiano: the site is also a small ethnographic museum and depicts, among others, fullers, weavers, millers, knife sharpeners and potters.
To visit the Belén Popular Asturiano outside December and January, you must arrange an appointment with the town hall or tourist office. Visiting arrangements may change, so confirm the appointment in advance. This makes it easier to plan this part of your itinerary rather than assuming you can visit without an appointment.
The Iglesia de San Miguel de Mohices de la Caridad is listed in the inventory of Asturias’s architectural heritage. Its bell tower has a small dome topped by a pinnacle. Its construction history is also notable: the building was planned in several phases during the 18th century. The old church is connected to the current church and is now used as a parish hall. Casa Alvarín is also included in the inventory of houses in the Principality of Asturias’s architectural heritage.
Traditional Architecture at the Complejo Cultural As Quintas
The Complejo Cultural As Quintas, also known as Casa Pastur or Casa das Quintas, is a centuries-old building in the traditional architectural style. Its features include a slate roof, stone elements and small windows. The complex also includes a cabazo, a hayloft and a bodega with an oven. It is designed to serve as the municipality’s visitor reception center. The traditional bodega with its oven and the well have been preserved and can be seen there.
These buildings and collections each have a different focus: the museum centers on blacksmithing, the Belén on traditional trades, and As Quintas on the architecture and preserved features of the house. The Iglesia de San Miguel, in turn, combines specific architectural features with its status as part of Asturias’s cultural heritage. Together, they offer several distinct ways to explore the town’s history and architectural culture.
Walks, the Camino and Nature
The Camino de Santiago passes through A Caridá and by the Molín de Mingolín. The de A Caridá pilgrims’ hostel has 18 places, is 100 meters from the Camino and welcomes pilgrims year-round. Confirm the accommodation details again before your trip.
The Ruta urbana por A Caridá is an unsigned circular route of one kilometer. The loop is listed as taking about one hour and having a low difficulty level. The marked Senda Verde del Río Mazo is 3.5 kilometers long, also has a low difficulty level and takes about one hour. From La Caridad, it can be reached via the FR-1 road toward Arancedo; the route starts in El Chavolo in Arancedo. The two trails therefore differ not only in length and signage, but also in whether you choose a walk through the town or a marked route.
As Covas da Andía, designated a natural monument in 2002, is eight kilometers from A Caridá. It features Roman gold-mining workings from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, as well as karst galleries formed by water. Visits are possible only as part of a guided tour, and advance booking is required. As booking arrangements may change, confirm them before your visit. This guided tour is therefore quite different from the walks and hiking routes described above.
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