Sierra De Ibio: Historic Architecture and Mountain Landscape

Sierra De Ibio lies at the foot of the mountain range that gave the village its name. Its historic architecture and a route into the mountains offer two distinct focal points for your stay.

Mountain Landscape and Hiking Route

The Ruta al Alto de San Cipriano–Monte Ibio is 6 kilometers one way; the average duration is two hours. From Sierra De Ibio, take the CA-283 secondary road to Alto de San Cipriano, where the route begins. The route description takes you through a coniferous forest, where pine trees are the dominant species. Before setting off, check the current route conditions and bear in mind when planning your time that the stated distance and duration refer to the outward journey.

From the 798-meter-high Pico de Ibio, conditions permitting, you can see Saja-Besaya Nature Park and the municipalities on the northern and southern slopes. The view is therefore dependent on suitable conditions. If you make the hike the focus of your stay, you can include this landscape, along with the forest and the named destination, in your plans.

Historic Buildings and Local History

The Ermita de San Roque dates back to the 16th century, although most of the elements visible today are from the 18th century. Its original period and present appearance therefore belong to different building phases. The Palacio Gómez de la Torre, built at the beginning of the 18th century, adds a Baroque palace to this picture.

The Casa Renacentista also reflects a long building history: it originated in the 16th century, was restored in the 18th century, and underwent further alterations in the 20th century. The Casona solariega de La Torre is an 18th-century mountain house with a solana and a soportal. It may also preserve elements of an older building tradition, probably dating back to the 16th century.

Several houses in Sierra De Ibio illustrate the development from single-story casas llanas of the 16th century to two-story homes with a solana. A casa llana is a single-story house type; a representative example of this type also dates from the 16th century. La Portalada is an 18th-century mountain house integrated into a group of houses whose buildings were originally single-story casas llanas. The Ermita de San Antonio can very likely be dated to the 18th century.

Visiting and Cultural Landscape

The village’s history also helps put Sierra De Ibio in context: a necropolis is cited as evidence of the foramontane resettlement. Scattered huts in the immediate surroundings are also associated with the traditional use of mountain pastures. They add a glimpse of the historic use of the mountain landscape to the area’s architectural history.

For a self-guided visit, you can use a map that is also available to download as a PDF. Check local access regulations before your trip. This will help you plan your stay around your interests, whether you want to focus on the different building periods and house types or on the hiking route and its landscape.

Discover more destinations: Sollagua, Villanueva, Luriezo, Corvera, Valle, Quintana, Abaño, Somaniezo.

Go to the regional travel overview: Cantabria.