LA POLA

Pola de Laviana is the biggest Parish and the administrative capital of this Asturian council called Laviana, It is situated in the centre of a wide valley which forms the Nalon river and is surrounded by an amphytheatre of mountains.

It has a land extension of 9,80 km² it has a population of 9.031 inhabitants, who are distributed amongst the country farmhouses, and the following villages and towns El Cantu Baxo, El Cantu Riba, La Carba, Casapapiu, La Castañal, El Castrillón, El Felguerón, Les Llanes, Lloreo, La Ortigosa, Pielgos, La Piniella, Pola de Laviana, Les Portielles, La Quinta Norte, La Quinta, La Rasa, La Robellá, El Rebollusu, La Sartera, Sospelái, Valdelesabeyes de Baxo, La Carba les Llanes, La Chalana, L´Horrón de Riba, Llancuervu, El Llosón, L´Umines, L´Otero, El Pandu, El Robledal, Solavelea, La Traviesa, Valdelesabeyes de Riba, El Vallebregón, La Caya, El Cantu, La Cuaña, El Granxu, L´Horrón de Baxo, La Llamarga, La Llosica, L´Oteru, Picublancu, El Pindal, Riberos, San Xulián, Solallosica, Solavega, Sollagos and La Teyera.

It is situated 33 Km from Oviedo, 59 km. from Avilés, 64 Km. from Gijón, 101 Km. from Llanes, 29 Km. from Mieres and 100 Km. from Navia.

It was during the time of King Juan II (at the break of XV century) when it was considered a town, becoming an important business centre with commercial activities such as its trade fairs and market place, and also its educational institutions, health and transport system.

Its main street called La Libertad is the centre and the most important in this town; it has two buildings which stand out because of their modernist style. The The Herrero bank built in about 1900 is two storeys high and has a loft, the latter in the centre of the facade, which curiously appears forming a corner. The second -Cine Maxi- which stands a short distance away, is a later construction and its decoration is considered art-deco with regards to the windows on its facade.

One of the most traditional places in the town is La Pontona square the birth place of Melchor Valdés-Hevia in the last century, famous brigadier from the Carlist army, the exact place where the famous Laviana prison, once stood.