With its crenellated towers and their solid stone walls, the Hermitage of the Guide It looks more like a small fortress than a sanctuary. It stands high above the La Guía Field, on the cliff that closes off the eastern side of port of LlanesFrom its esplanade, you can see the harbor entrance, the fishing port, and a good part of the town's coast.
It is the hermitage of the Virgin of Guidance, patron saint of one of the three festive bands of Llanes, and one of the chapels with the most symbolic significance in the council, both for its location facing the sea and for its connection with the maritime devotion and with the festivals that bid farewell to summer every September.
🗺 How to get to the Hermitage of La Guía
View on Google Maps: Hermitage of the Virgin of the Guide
The hermitage is in the La Guía street, on the hill to the east of the port. From the historic helmet it arrives a 10-15 minute walkSimply walk around the port and go up La Guía street to the esplanade. The climb is short but somewhat steep. The easiest way is leave the car in the center and do the walk, because there is little place to park in the upper area.
📖 History and legend
Its origin goes back to early 16th century In 1515 the Llanes native Fernando de Salas He presented the petition to the Bishop of Oviedo to found it, and the temple, built with contributions from the neighborhood, was consecrated on 8 September 1516, the same date on which the main day of La Guía is celebrated today. Since then it has been maintained thanks to the alms of the faithful, and was reformed and enlarged in the 17th and 19th centuriesHence the different volumes that can be seen in the building.
Seafaring tradition adds its own story. It tells of legend A fishing boat from Llanes, caught in the middle of a storm, begged for divine help. A wave then left a floating box among the cliff rocks And when they opened it, the sailors found the image of the Virgin inside. On that very spot, the sanctuary that now overlooks the sea would be built.
The image venerated inside is of the type "Queen of Heaven"The Virgin appears standing, crowned, with a scepter in her right hand and the Child in her left arm, in a gilded wooden altarpiece.
🎉 The La Guía festivities
The hermitage is the heart of the La Guía festivals, declared of Touristic interest and organized by the Pronouncement of the Guide, whose flower is the spikenard:
- September 7, eveThe Virgin Mary descends from her hermitage to the Basilica of Santa María del Conceyu in the night procession of the mantillas, celebrated since 1929. Hundreds of women with mantillas, candles and a tuberose in their lapels accompany the image, which on the bridge turns to look at the estuary while the fish market siren sounds.
- September 8: big day, with the offering of bouquets, the Dance of Arches that the children dance in front of the hermitage, the pericote and prima dance, wearing traditional Llanisca and Llanisco costumes.
We tell you all about the party in detail in our article. The Guide in Llanes: the party that says goodbye to summer.
ℹ️ Services and recommendations
- The exterior and the esplanade can be visited freely all year round.There are stone benches to sit and contemplate the sea.
- To watch the interiorThe best time is to visit during worship hours or during the holidays, or check with the Llanes Tourist Office (985 40 01 64).
- Al sunset The light on the port and the stone of the hermitage is especially beautiful, and it's a good time to take photos.
- If you are interested in religious heritage, the hermitage is part of our Route through the churches and hermitages of Llanes.
📍 What to see nearby
As you go down towards the port you will find the Cubes of Memory by Agustín Ibarrola painted on the breakwater, and on the other side of the harbor entrance the Walk of San Pedro, one of the great viewpoints in the town. In the center, just a few minutes away, is the Basilica of Santa María del Conceyu, where the Virgin spends the night before her feast day.
