Camino de los Santuarios

Through the spectacular Picos de Europa mountains, the Camino de los Santuarios links the great sanctuaries of northern Spain's Cantabrian range. From Covadonga's cave shrine to the Lignum Crucis at Santo Toribio de Liébana, this demanding mountain route connects places of profound spiritual significance in landscapes of extraordinary beauty.

📜 History & Significance

The Camino de los Santuarios connects two of Spain's most important pilgrimage sites. Covadonga, where the Christian Reconquista began, and Santo Toribio de Liébana, guardian of the largest relic of the True Cross, both lie within or on the edges of the Picos de Europa massif. Medieval pilgrims traveled between these shrines, crossing the high passes that link Asturias and Cantabria.

The route through these mountains connects sites sacred since Visigothic times, when Christians fled southward from Muslim conquest, carrying relics and faith to the remote valleys where resistance would begin.

🥾 Route Overview

The Camino de los Santuarios stretches approximately 200 km from Covadonga to Santo Toribio de Liébana, typically requiring 8-12 days of demanding mountain walking. The route crosses the heart of the Picos de Europa, Spain's first national park.

From Covadonga, the path climbs through the western massif before descending to the Cares Gorge and crossing to the central peaks. The final section leads through the Liébana valley to Santo Toribio, with views of the towering limestone peaks throughout.

☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites

Covadonga - The Holy Cave where the Virgin appeared to King Pelayo before his victory in 722 AD, beginning the Reconquista. The sanctuary includes the cave shrine and 19th-century basilica.

Santo Toribio de Liébana - The monastery housing the Lignum Crucis, the largest fragment of the True Cross, brought from Jerusalem to escape Muslim conquest. One of only five churches in the world authorized to celebrate a Holy Year.