Between the sea and the mountains sits Porrúa, a beautiful Asturian village where traditions go hand in hand with rural tourism.
It is a town that belongs to the municipality of Llanes, being located in the Sierra del Cuera, a mountainous system with spectacular views of both the nearby Picos de Europa, and the Cantabrian coast, where we can find impressive beaches such as Poo, Toro or El Sablón, of a ravishing beauty.
Within the municipality of Llanes, it is one of the most outstanding towns, in large part, due to its conservation of customs and traditions that had awarded it to be named Cultural Town of Europe in 2008 and, also, to obtain the Award for Exemplary Town of Asturias (2005).
In its history, migration has always been quite present, leaving as a representation of it, many Indian houses spread through its urban nucleus and surroundings. These houses were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by returned emigrants from America who had made a fortune, highlighting among them the one known as El Castillo, from 1928.
Do you want to know what you can see in Porrúa? Regarding its architectural heritage, the Ethnographic Museum of the East of Asturias is one of the best examples of the conservation of its culture and customs, and it is located in the town square, along with other emblematic buildings, such as La Bolera, the only bowling green in all of Asturias, where many residents enjoy this traditional game.
In addition to these buildings, we can also see the church of San Julián de Porrúa, as well as the Casa Concejo or the Casino-Library, all of them built at the beginning of the 20th century.
Within the traditional architecture we can find examples such as the washing place, the Vallina fountain or the water trough, and as an art sample, the Porrúa route, a world behind the walls, teaches us, through beautiful murals, scenes of daily life from town.
What do its people live on? In its origins it was essentially a town dedicated to livestock, since in its surroundings extensive pastures extend, giving rise to one of its most famous products, such as Porrúa cheese, with its own designation of origin.
In recent times, a pillar of support has also been the tourism sector, where rural tourism has developed predominantly.
If at this point you are thinking about what you are going to be able to eat, we tell you, in advance, that traditional cuisine is a basic pillar in gastronomy, with typical dishes such as Asturian fabada or stew, as well as local meat and garden products being an important part of many dishes.
Do you want to know which holidays are the ones you can't miss? At the beginning of the year, in the month of January, the patron saint festivities are celebrated, in honor of San Julián and Santa Basilia, where dances and music are accompanied by the tradition of eating butiellu, a product very similar to black pudding.
Another outstanding festivity is those of San Justo and San Pastor, during the second weekend of August, in which a great bonfire is made in which people from the town, with the traditional Porruan dress, dance dances such as Pericote, Jota del Cuera, Xiringüelu or the Prima Dance.
Lastly, we do not miss the opportunity to name the El Mercáu Tradicional de Porrúa, similar in style to the medieval ones, in which the ancient and traditional life of the town is recreated, enlivened with different activities.
As you can see, Porrúa is an Asturian corner where traditions set the pace, so if you dare to visit it, our recommendation is that you complete the experience with rural tourism to put the icing on the cake.
