What to see and do in Pola de Allande

Pola de Allande is the capital of the council of Allande, the most inland municipality of the Comarca Vaqueira and one of the least known in Asturias, crossed by The Primitive Way. Its mountainous relief holds landscapes and villages of incomparable, archaic beauty, along with the Indian architecture built by emigrants returning from America, the Palacete de Ramos Ron and the Palacio de Cienfuegos de Peñalba, raised over an ancient hillfort.

Its rugged territory is structured by the Sierra de los Lagos, which divides Allande into twoareas with different history, cultural traits and languages. Both areas are known as Palo p'aco and Palo p'aló, since the Puerto del Palo is the border between them.

For pilgrims on the Pilgrims' Route to Santiago de Compostela, finding a place like Pola de Allande along the way is a real gift. A village that welcomes the pilgrim with a track that was formerly in disuse and that the City Council has enabled to eliminate sections of road and which has installed a fountain. But the best thing about coming to this town is not to pass through but to stay.

Would you like to walk this part of the Camino with your accommodation booked for every stage? These organised trips pass through Pola de Allande: Primitive Way from Oviedo to Lugo, Camino Primitivo from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela and The Primitive Way from Oviedo by bicycle.

Indiano Architecture

Waves of emigration to America, which peaked in the first decades of the 20th century, marked a significant era in Pola de Allande. Emigrants who returned to their homeland after having fulfilled the “golden dream” are known as “indianos.” Their homes, designed as small palaces with large landscaped gardens, define the town's unique architectural character. In the centre, the Monument in Honour of the Emigrant pays tribute to all those who left in search of fortune.

Palacete de Ramos Ron

Also known as the “Chalet de Colasa,” this building was designed in the neoclassical style by architect José Gómez del Collado on a steeply sloping plot. It was commissioned by Manuel Ramos Flórez, who emigrated young from Pola and found success in trade across Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Don Manuel, who later served as the local mayor, named the house in honour of his mother, Nicolasa.

Palace of Cienfuegos of Peñalba

Located on a hill near Pola de Allande, this palace was built upon an ancient hillfort (castro). It belonged to the Ponce lineage and the Counts of Luna before passing to the Cienfuegos family in 1515. Around 1520, Rodrigo González de Cienfuegos rebuilt it over a 14th-century foundation. While Gothic elements remain in the lower sections, the structure was extensively reformed in the 18th century to suit the palatial tastes of the Count of Peñalba.

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