Noreña: Sabadiego Tradition and Historic Routes

A historic pilgrimage route, a spring festival celebrating Picadillo and Sabadiego, and a group of distinctive buildings shape Noreña. Culinary tradition and local history come together at the festival, in the industrial architecture and in public works of art. The history of the Camino de Santiago is also part of the town’s character.

Sabadiego and the Spring Festival

Picadillo and Sabadiego are the main dishes of the Fiesta del Picadillo y el Sabadiego. The festival takes place every spring and has been declared a Festival of Tourist Interest of the Principality of Asturias. The exact dates vary each year; if the celebration is the reason for your trip, check the dates for the relevant year.

Sabadiego is a sausage made from blood, lean meat and onions. Noreña is considered its traditional stronghold. The spring festival thus brings together two culinary names and a product that is central to local tradition. This story continues in the industrial architecture: Fábrica La Luz is a notable industrial building dating from 1913. It was the first place in Noreña to use modern sausage-making machinery. According to the municipality, the factory was also the first in the world to can Asturian fabada.

The Monumento al Gochu reflects the town’s connection with the sausage-making industry. The life-size bronze sculpture was installed in 2001 as a tribute to the animal that provides the raw materials for Noreña’s important sausage-making industry.

The Historic Camino through Noreña

The Camino de Santiago route through Noreña has been declared a Bien de Interés Cultural as a historic route. Pilgrims travelling to Santiago used it in the late Middle Ages and early Modern period. The described section runs between Ferrera and the Palacio de Miraflores before entering the built-up area of the Villa de Noreña. This makes it possible to follow the local route via named places; local access conditions may change. Check them before planning a visit.

Palaces, Churches and Local History

The Palacio del Rebollín was built in several phases between the 16th and 18th centuries. The Palacio de Miraflores dates from the late 16th century and has a courtyard surrounded by arcades. Its neoclassical design is influenced by the Herrerian style. The palace is also associated with Álvaro Flórez Estrada: he spent the last years of his life there and died there. He lived from 1776 to 1853.

The Church of Santa María de Noreña stands on the site of an older Romanesque church; its exterior is influenced by the Renaissance. The Casa de Pedro Alonso offers a different architectural style: an eclectic Indiano house built in the early 20th century. Its garden is home to Asturian and American trees. The Casa de Ramón Pérez de Ayala was built in 1874 and is the house in Noreña where the Asturian writer and journalist spent his summers.

The Torre del Reloj dates from the last quarter of the 17th century. It once served as a local prison and public clock; residents were also summoned to meetings from there. The Quiosco de la Música on the Paseo de Fray Ramón was designed by Juan Miguel de la Guardia and built by Arturo Bertrand. Its octagonal structure is made of iron and wood, topped by a dome with zinc shingles and a needle-shaped finial.

Getting There by Car

Road connections to Noreña include the N-634 national road towards Oviedo and Santander, as well as Exit 19 of the AS-I Autovía Minera and Exit 22 of the A-64 motorway. Check the route before travelling to make sure it suits your plans.

Discover more destinations: Noreña, Cabo Peñas, Ibias, Taramundi, Sobrescobio, Cangas Del Narcea, Colunga, Peñamellera Alta.

For the main travel overview: Asturias.