Ribadesella ( Asturian : Ribeseya ) is a small 84-square-kilometre (32 sq mi) municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias , Spain. Known for its location on the Cantabrian Sea , at the outlet of the River Sella, Ribadesella is a town that forms part of the Picos de Europa (Peaks of Europe). It is bordered on the east by Llanes , on the south by Cangas de Onís and Parres, and on the west by Caravia. Ribadesella is the home town of Queen Letizia of Spain .
9-466: The Tito Bustillo Cave is a prehistoric rock shelter located in the small town of Ribadesella , in the autonomous community of Asturias , Spain. The cave was inhabited by humans ( cro-magnon ) before the year 10,000 BC. Due to the collapse of the rock, the original entrance to the cave was sealed thousands of years ago, which made it possible for preservation of objects, tools and wall paintings that were discovered in 1968. Based on those objects found in
18-474: Is also a panel representing female genitalia and it is believed to have had the intention to invoke fertility. The oldest painting in the cave represents an anthropomorphic figure, part male, part female. Apart from the paintings, some objects from the Magdalenian period were perfectly preserved. The most important ones are some harpoons made of bone and a carved staghorn of a goat head. Ribadesella On
27-626: The Tito Bustillo Cave (Cueva de Tito Bustillo), known for prehistoric wall paintings of animals and figures, probably dating from the Magdalenian age (29,000 years ago). It's included in the Unesco World Heritage SIte Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain . The first written references to the settlement are more recent, and date from the first century BC. These come from the Greek geographer Strabo , who speaks of
36-838: The River "Noega" separating "the Astures from the Cantabrians". The people of Ribadesella at this time were called the Salaeni: they dominated Colunga, Arriondas and Llanes. Ribadesella has two main streets, the Gran Vía de Agustin Argüelles, and the Calle Comercio. In this part of Ribadesella, there are a few banks, pharmacies, restaurants/bars, stores, and newspaper stands. Here also is the Casco Antiguo, where
45-574: The cave, it is known that there was a significant human presence during the Magdalenian culture of the Upper Palaeolithic , but the cave was probably inhabited before that time. The Tito Bustillo Cave has been designated a World Heritage Site , as part of the Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain , and it has 12 prehistorical paintings, making it one of the most complete examples of
54-783: The first weekend of August on the banks of the River Sella, and is accompanied by a celebratory gathering (La Fiesta de Les Piragües) through the streets and plaza of Ribadesella. The race begins in Arriondas, and finishes at the end of the River Sella, located in the “center” of Ribadesella. Other festivals are celebrated with food, music, and dancing with original bagpipe/asturiano music and traditional dress. These festivals include religious celebrations for San Antón de Cuerres, San José de Sebreñu, Nuestra Señora de Fátima de Toriellu, San Isidro, San Lorenzo, Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza de Collera, and Nuestra Señora de Guía,
63-585: The first weekend of August, the International Sella River Descent takes place; kayakers from all over the world gather here to attempt the final 20 km of the Sella River in record time. The town is also known for its prehistoric cave, known as the cave of Tito Bustillo , which is open to visitors all year round. Ribadesella is often visited for its history, sport activities, scenery, natural amenities, and food. The municipality includes
72-637: The old plaza is located, as well as Ribadesella's church: the Iglesia Parroquial de Sta. María Magdalena. In this part of town are small shops selling homemade products, as well as the homes of Ribadesella's inhabitants. The third part of Ribadesella consists of the Paseo Marítimo del Puerto, or the Maritime Avenue of the Port. The International Sella River Descent is a race that takes place every year on
81-472: The prehistoric art in the north of Spain. The oldest of these paintings shows human figures and is around 33,000 years old, as determined by radiocarbon dating . Some scientists believe it could have been made by Neanderthals , though this theory hasn't been proven. Some of the paintings represent animals: horses, deer, moose and even a marine animal (probably a whale) and they are believed to have had some kind of ritual purpose to improve their hunting. There
#70929