Chapel of the Virgin of Guía

A beautiful corner of Ribadesella is this beautiful hermitage that guards the city, and that lets you see impressive panoramic views of the city from the heights.

It is a Renaissance chapel from the end of the 16th century, although it was renovated in 1892, which houses the patron saint of sailors. The building is missing a nave, probably lost in a landslide, and its best preserved element is the magnificent south portal, in which the original stonework can still be seen. There was from the 16th to the 19th century, next to the chapel, a fortification with a battery for the defense of the port. The three cannons that can be seen there today are part of Rio's history, as they were thrown into the sea by the French in their withdrawal from the town in the War of Independence and restored to their original location in 1999. Hermitage and battery are today the best viewpoint to contemplate the town, the mountains and the Cantabrian Sea. (ribadesella.es)