San Miguel de Canero: Construction and predecessor monastery
San Miguel de Canero was built between 1789 and 1800. The floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross, with a polygonal presbytery, vaulted naves, a portico and an espadaña, or bell gable. The floor plan describes the overall layout, while the presbytery is the choir area. The portico and bell gable add architectural features to the description, while the vaulted naves shape the church interior. This makes it possible to consider the overall form and the individual architectural elements separately.
San Miguel de Canero replaced an earlier monastery in the Esva Valley, the Monasterium Sancti Micaelis de Canero. It was founded by Counts Xemeno Xemeniz and Arangoti. Sancho later inherited the monastery and gave it to his brother so that he could include it in Corias’s endowment at its foundation. The church and the monastery are two distinct stages: the period from 1789 to 1800 refers to the construction of the church; the foundation, inheritance and transfer belong to the monastery’s history.
Camino de la Costa: Stage 10
Stage 10 of the Camino de la Costa, 19.7 km long, runs from Viḷḷamouros to Outur through Caneiru. Along the stage, the route descends from El Ventorrillu to the church of San Miguel de Canero and then continues into the Esva Valley. The place name Caneiru adds a point along the way to the two stage endpoints; the descent to the church and the continuation into the valley describe one section of the route. This distinction is important for planning: the 19.7 km refers to the entire stage, not just the section by the church.
Casa del Barco and the former crossing of the Esva
Casa del Barco in Canero preserves the site of the former ferry service across the Esva. Before the present-day bridge crossing, the river was crossed here by boat. This adds a historical perspective on the same river to the route description: the stage descends into the Esva Valley, while Casa del Barco recalls the former crossing. The route and the river’s history thus offer different points of reference for understanding the Esva.
Playa de Cueva near Cueva in Valdés
Playa de Cueva near Cueva in Valdés is 480 m long and consists of pebbles and dark sand. It lies at the mouth of the Esva, has a shell-shaped form and is bounded to the east by the foothills of Cabo Busto. Its length, beach material and location at the river mouth describe different aspects of this stretch of coast; the eastern boundary provides another notable point of reference.
Playa de Cueva can be reached from Caroyas by car or on foot. There is another access route on foot from a car park on a road from Caneiru to the beach. Walking routes are available along the river or through the forest. This distinguishes the journey from Caroyas from the additional pedestrian access at Caneiru. Facilities include parking, lifeguard supervision in high season, showers and toilets. Since facilities may change, check the current situation before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Barcia, Boronas, Brieves, Almuña, Luarca, Cadavedo.
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