San Juan de Amandi is a major cultural landmark: the church dates from the first third of the 13th century and is considered one of the notable examples of Asturian Romanesque architecture. Several named trails reach Amandi; other routes focus on river crossings, riverside woodland, and old watermills. For planning, it is therefore worth comparing specific features: architectural history, stage destination, difficulty rating, and landscape.

San Juan de Amandi and its architectural history

The church has a rectangular floor plan with a single nave and a semicircular apse. A double row of arcades decorates the apse throughout the choir area. The wide portico dates from the 17th century. This building therefore brings together a Romanesque classification and a feature dating from much later: the church dates back to the first third of the 13th century, while the portico belongs to a later period. Anyone interested in architecture will find specific forms and dates here, rather than only a general classification as a Romanesque church.

Walking stages with different features

The Sebrayo–Niévares stage of the Camino de Santiago reaches Amandi. Another named route is the GR108 Travesía Andariega: it includes a walking route between Gijón/Xixón and Amandi and is rated easy. This gives you a choice between a walking route explicitly classified as easy and the Camino stage that reaches Amandi.

The Senda Fluvial del Río Linares runs from Parque de La Barquerina to Amandi. The trail is about 3 km long, wide, and almost flat. Its length, width, and profile give you different points of reference for planning your day. The Senda del Río Linares is also noted for having three footbridges at the river crossings. These footbridges are a specific feature of this route.

Streams, riverside woodland, and old watermills

On the Amandi–Miyares stage, the route crosses the Fondovil stream, then passes beneath chestnut trees and occasional oaks, as well as through beautiful riverside woodland. The route along the Río Profundu has a different focus: a 7 km stretch is home to the ruins of more than twenty old watermills in varying states of preservation, surrounded by riverside woodland. Here, the stream crossing and trees along the Amandi–Miyares stage contrast with a stretch where the mill ruins shape the landscape. When comparing trails, you can decide based on whether a stated difficulty rating, an approximate length, or a particular landscape feature matters most to you.

Sidra Cortina and cider-making

At Sidra Cortina, you can learn about the production of natural cider on a guided tour of the facilities and then sample it. If you want to make this experience a firm part of your plans, check the current tour and tasting arrangements in advance, as conditions may change.

Plan a stay that suits you

To help decide on your trip, you can first choose whether the church, a named stage, or a particular trail landscape will be your main focus. That way, your choice is based on the experiences you actually plan to include.

Discover more destinations: Torretejera, Collado, Cabranes, Villaviciosa, Selorio, San Miguel, Cazamular, Argüero.

Back to the main travel guide: Villaviciosa.