In Veigas, the Casas de Teito represent Somiedo’s traditional domestic culture. Three houses preserve broom-heather roofs, historic structural features and period furnishings. The former parish church of San Andrés and an ethnographic route also offer concrete cultural perspectives on the village.
The Casas de Teito and Domestic Heritage
The Teito houses illustrate the development of traditional homes in Somiedo and the social heritage of domestic life. Visitors see them as they appeared while they were inhabited, up to the mid-1980s. Broom-heather roofs, historic structural features and period furnishings belong together: the roof reveals a building technique, while the structure and furnishings broaden the view of the house as a living space. This makes it possible to understand the tradition not just as a roofing material, but as a way of living with architectural and social dimensions.
The “Conoce la etnografĂa de Somiedo” route includes a visit in Veigas to three houses with preserved broom-heather Teito roofs. If you are planning to take part in this group activity, check its current availability in advance.
San Andrés: Architectural Form and Portal
The former parish church of San Andrés de Veigas offers a different perspective on architectural history. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross and consists of a central nave and two side aisles. The cruciform layout and division into a central and two side aisles describe the spatial arrangement. The entrance portal brings the architecture into focus in detail: a round arch supports a keystone decorated with an acanthus leaf. At San Andrés, the church’s overall form and a single ornament can thus be seen side by side. The former parish church was added to the Inventory of Asturian Cultural Heritage on January 18, 2014.
Location and Routes
Veigas lies in the valley of the Saliencia River, within Somiedo Natural Park and the Somiedo Biosphere Reserve. The Casas de Teito in Veigas are among the natural park’s attractions. A road to Saliencia passes through Veigas, VillarĂn, Arbellales and Endriga.
An accessible path in Pola de Somiedo was created along an old route that connected Pola de Somiedo with the neighboring village of Veigas. If you plan to include this path in your itinerary, check the current route locally.
The residential area of the Ecomuseo de Somiedo, which opened to the public in 2001, is part of Somiedo’s wider cultural heritage.
Domestic Culture or Church Architecture?
The Teito houses and San Andrés offer different approaches if you are choosing a cultural focus: the houses highlight the development of traditional ways of living and domestic heritage, while the former church draws attention to its floor plan and portal design. If you are considering accommodation for a stay in Veigas, you can use this distinction to decide whether you are more interested in domestic and everyday culture or in architecture.
Discover more destinations: Castañedo de Miranda, VillamarĂn, San MartĂn, Santullano, Valle De Lago, Somiedo, Carrea, CamĂn Real de la Mesa
Go to the main travel overview: CamĂn Real De La Mesa.
