Piloña Explained

Piloña
Settlement Type:Municipality
Pushpin Map:Spain
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Spain
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Spain
Subdivision Type1:Autonomous community
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Asturias
Subdivision Type3:Comarca
Subdivision Name3:Oriente
Subdivision Type4:Judicial district
Subdivision Name4:Piloña
Seat Type:Capital
Seat:Infiesto
Coordinates:43.35°N -26°W
Elevation Max M:1420
Area Total Km2:283.89
Population Demonym:piloñeses
Population Density Km2:auto
Blank Name Sec1:Official language(s)
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1
Timezone Dst:CEST
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:33530
Area Code Type:Dialing code
Leader Title:Alcalde
Leader Name:Camilo Montes Díaz
Leader Party:PSOE

Piloña (pronounced as /es/) is a municipality in the province and autonomous community of Asturias, northwestern Spain. Its capital is the town of Infiesto. Piloña is bounded to the north by Villaviciosa and Colunga, to the east by Parres, to the west by Nava and Cabranes, and to the south by Ponga, Caso, Sobrescobio and Laviana. The area is semi-mountainous with many small, but deep and narrow valleys.

History

In prehistoric times there were paleolithic settlements in caves in Piloña such as Aviao (Espinaredo) Cave, Collaréu Cave, and La Peña Ferran (Ferran Rock) which were excavated by the Count de la Vega del Sella in the 1920s. There are several sites with paleolithic rock art and Neanderthal remains, including Sidrón Cave in Borines.

Piloña lies in a narrow basin that runs parallel with the coast. Over time it formed part of the natural path between Oviedo and Cangas de Onís, which connects central Asturias with the Asturian east. Piloña was the largest settlement along that path.

In Roman times Beloncio was occupied, and is identified with the town Paelontium mentioned by Ptolemy as the capital of the Astur tribe known as Lugones. There is also evidence of Roman occupation at Borines.

Economics

The area is poor and depopulating. There were over 20,000 inhabitants in 1930; 8,799 in 2001; and 8,440 in 2005.

The three largest towns are Infiesto (with about 20% of the population), Villamayor and Sevares. All three are on the Piloña River, a left-hand tributary of the Sella River, and on the main highway, the N-634.

The area is agricultural with cattle being raised for both milk and meat, and with some production of forest products.

Parishes

There are 24 parishes (administrative divisions):

  • Pintueles
  • Ques
  • San Antonio
  • San Juan de Berbío (San Xuan de Berbío)
  • San Román (San Román de Villa)
  • Sellón
  • Sevares (Sebares)
  • Sorribas (Sorribes)
  • Tozo (El Tozu)
  • Valle
  • Vallobal
  • Villamayor

External links