칸타브리아 산맥‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪20‬개의 산 정상

Upon reaching the summit, you don't arrive at a village or a tourist center, but rather at a kind of natural balcony overlooking the Lena mountain passes, which gives a strange feeling, as if you've stepped onto an empty stage. And on clear days, the wind is louder among the mountain passes than any car, because traffic is minimal.

For decades, La Cubilla was practically a ghost town: a road built to connect mining valleys, used more by livestock farmers and scattered trucks than by travelers. This lack of traffic left a remarkably clean route, free of curves, absurd straights, and modern widenings: pure mountain design from another era. That's why many cyclists say it "looks more like an Alpine pass than a Cantabrian one," with those giant limestone walls silently accompanying you.

The view from the top of Gilbo Peak, known as the Matterhorn of León, is simply spectacular. From its 1,679-meter altitude, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Riaño reservoir, the León fjords, and the mountains of the Riaño and Mampodre Mountain Regional Park.

The La Cubilla mountain pass is located at an altitude of 1,683 meters, on the border between Asturias and León. Its rugged terrain and the beauty of its surroundings have earned it the title of stage finisher of the Vuelta a España, making it one of the most iconic climbs among cyclists.

In front of this summit cross crowning the heights of La Viorna, the following thoughts from Pope Francis – who died on Easter Monday this year – may be helpful to those who linger on the summit after the climb: "In the Resurrection of Christ, each of our destinies finds its place in the infinite horizon of eternity. Only from his death and resurrection does the certainty arise that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God [as the Apostle Paul writes in his Letter to the Romans, chapter 8]. From this great hope comes every other glimmer of light with which we can overcome life's trials and obstacles. And not only that: the Risen One also walks with us and becomes our companion, as with the disciples on the road to Emmaus."

One of the great Asturian mountain passes, without a doubt. Generally unknown to the general public, it's rarely used in professional races. It has two clearly distinct slopes. The southern slope, which begins in Pola de Allande, is gentle and steady, along a road in good condition. It shares much of its climb with Puerto del Palo, which it turns off from just 3 km from the summit of Puerto de la Marta. The northern slope, which comes from Villayon, is uneven, with very tough sections and several rest stops and descents. It reminds me a lot of the Croix-de-Fer from Sant Jean de Maurienne, not because of the landscape, but because of the type of pass.

Highly recommended, it can be done together with the Palo departing from Pola, the Marta is shorter but with a steeper slope

Gilbo Peak, known as the "Leonese Matterhorn," is one of the most popular hikes in the Riaño Mountains, León. It offers spectacular views of the Riaño Reservoir and the "Leonese Fjords."