To spot the Church of Santa Maria del Conceyu, look straight ahead for a large, ancient stone building with a tall, square bell tower, soaring arches over the entrances, and a wide set of steps leading up to heavy wooden doors.
Now, let me whisk you back almost 800 years-to 1240-when the people of Llanes decided they wanted something grand, something truly sturdy, so they rolled up their sleeves and started building this church. Picture the sound of hammers echoing on stone as the townsfolk worked together, determined to leave a mark for future generations. It took centuries and a whole mix of styles: check out those pointed Gothic arches meeting Romanesque doorways, and the mighty fortress-like tower watching over the town. If you wander inside, you’ll find three naves, three apses, and a ceiling so intricate you might find yourself gazing upward for far too long-don’t worry, nobody will judge! And tucked away in the north wall is the chapel of Juan Pariente, built in the 1300s as a resting place, maybe with a ghost or two who lost track of time. In the main nave, the giant gilded altarpiece glimmers, while the side chapel’s art shows off even more drama-it's like medieval Llanes's version of a talent show. In 1973, the Pope declared this a basilica, so now it holds not only history but also a little extra heavenly bragging rights!
