Cornellana Voyage Tips and guide

Cornellana or Corniana is a village in Asturias in northern Spain, with a population of around 550 in 2023. It's a stopover on Camino Primitivo, the original route of the pilgrimage trail to Santiago.

43°24′32″N 6°9′25″W

Map of Cornellana

The nearest airport is Asturias (OVD ^IATA) near Avilés. A bus runs direct to Oviedo.

Cornellana is on A-63, a spur of A-66 from Oviedo.

ALSA buses run every 30 min from Oviedo, taking 50 min via Grado.

Grado is the nearest railway station, with cercanías trains from Oviedo every 2 hours, heading to San Esteban de Pravia on the coast.

The village can be easily explored on foot.

Taxi Cornellana is on +34 684 656236.

• 43.4091-6.15681 Monastery of San Salvador de Cornellana. The monastery was founded in 1024 by infanta Cristina Bermúdez, who entered as a nun. It was abandoned in 1834 and fell derelict, but has been restored as a hostel for pilgrims. Its church is Romanesque, renovated in the late 17th century. (updated Nov 2025)
• 43.39509-6.142542 Doriga Palace began as a defensive tower in the 14th century, with residential quarters added in the 15th and 16th. It's a private residence and you only get a distant exterior view.
• 43.3855-6.12173 El Fresno is a 17th / 18th century baroque church midway between Cornellana and Grado. It's only open for Mass, Su 11:00.

• Camino Primitivo is the original course of the pilgrimage trail to Santiago. It starts in Oviedo and a standard first day is to Grado, reaching Cornellana on the second day. With 287 km to go, it continues west through Quintana, Casazorrina and Salas.
• Salmon Fair or Capenastur is on April 12 / 13, the start of the salmon run and fishing season. When the fish were spotted making their way up the River Narcea, the monastery bells were rung to tell everyone to grab their nets and get in on it.
• Foguera de San Juan is June 24, bonfires for the birthday of St John the Baptist. At root it's a pagan midsummer festival that the church latched onto.
• Assumption of Our Lady is on August 15. The day before is a food and cider festival at the monastery.

• Minymas Tiendas is the supermarket, at Av José María Caballero 4, open M-Sa 09:00-14:00, 16:00-20:00, Su 10:00-14:00.
• ATMs on the main street are at Unicaja Banco and Sabadell.

• Cafe-Bar Camper is northeast end of town by the filling station, open daily 06:00-00:00.
• Casa Ricardo is a sidreria at Av Prudencio Fernández Pelló 82, open Su Tu W 11:00-17:00, Th 11:00-17:00, 20:00-23:00, F Sa 11:00-01:00.
• Mesón Dany is opposite at Av Prudencio Fernández Pelló 69, open M-F 07:00-02:00, Sa Su 10:00-02:00.
• La Taberna is at Av de las Flores 1, open Su M W Th 10:30-23:30, F Sa 10:30-01:30.

Cider is the trad drink of Asturias. The region produces a small amount of wine, with plenty more from other parts of Spain.

• Most pilgrims sleep in the monastery, open all year round.
• 43.4112-6.14851 Roca Madre, Al los Verdugos 15, ☏ +34 638 176862. Friendly pilgrim hostel east edge of the village. (updated Nov 2025)

As of Nov 2025, Cornellana and its approach roads have 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from MasMovil, Movistar and Orange. Lots of dead spots on the roads through the hills.

• Oviedo is a modern city but has an old centre with several sites of interest.
• Grado is a small town where a palace now houses the museum and library.
• Salas is the next town west along Camino Primitivo towards Santiago de Compostela.