Two Baroque Montañés manor houses, joined by a central chapel, give El Desierto in Hoz de Anero a distinctive architectural form. Together with Santa María de Toraya, the stone houses and the local history, they offer different ways to explore the cultural heritage of Ribamontán Al Monte.

Santa María de Toraya and its architectural history

The church of Santa María de Toraya, also known as La Asunción or the Church of the Assumption, is in Hoz de Anero and is the emblematic monument of the municipality of Ribamontán Al Monte. It was rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries on the site of an earlier monastery.

One distinctive architectural detail is the presbytery: built in 1575, it has a shell-shaped vault resting on squinches. Its design is typical of the Renaissance in Cantabria at the time, while also being particularly original. The church thus offers a glimpse both into the history of its rebuilding and into a specifically identified Renaissance feature.

El Desierto and the local history of Hoz de Anero

El Desierto consists of two Baroque Montañés manor houses joined by a central chapel. Since 1905, the Discalced Carmelites have used the complex as the Santo Desierto de San José de Rigada. The manor houses and chapel together form the architectural ensemble; their documented use is part of its history.

The remains of a monumental holm oak stand beside the Hoz de Anero town hall. The Junta de Trasmiera used to meet at this site. Another view of the town is offered by a quarter with eight stone houses, brought together from various places in northern Spain and restored. The quarter is considered attractive to visitors. While the holm oak recalls a former meeting place, the houses form a restored ensemble of buildings from different origins.

Festival, travel and walking route

The Fiesta de la Virgen del Camino brings together religious observance and a communal meal. In the municipality, a Eucharistic celebration and a procession in honor of the Virgen del Camino to the hermitage of the same name take place in the morning. At midday, participants can enjoy a communal meal featuring traditional dishes such as cocido montañés. As the program relates to each year’s festival, check the latest dates before traveling.

Hoz de Anero has a railway station, for which arrival and departure times are published. Train services and timetables can change, so check the times for your travel date. A description from 2018 also mentions a 1,140-meter walking route connecting Hoz de Anero with Solegrario. If you plan to take this route, check the conditions locally.

When looking for accommodation, you can first consider which themes you want to shape your stay: the architectural history around Santa María de Toraya and El Desierto, the local history of Hoz de Anero, or the festival program in the municipality. Then compare the listed location of accommodation with your own plans.

Discover more destinations: Villacarriedo, Camaleño, Santibáñez, Villar, Santotís, Escalante, La Lomba, Las Rozas De Valdearroyo.

For the broader travel overview: Cantabria.