Llanes

Llanes
Municipality
The Llanes Port's lighthouse in Asturias.
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Llanes
Llanes Location in Spain
Coordinates: 43°25′17″N 4°45′23″W / 43.42139°N 4.75639°W / 43.42139; -4.75639Coordinates: 43°25′17″N 4°45′23″W / 43.42139°N 4.75639°W / 43.42139; -4.75639
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Asturias
Province	Asturias
Comarca	Oriente
Capital	Llanes
Government
• Alcalde	Maria Dolores Álvarez Campillo (PSOE)
Area
• Total	263.59 km2 (101.77 sq mi)
Elevation	1,177 m (3,862 ft)
Population
• Total	13,915
• Density	53/km2 (140/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Llanisco/a
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	33500
Official language(s)	Spanish
Website	Official website

Llanes (the Concejo de Llanes, Conceyu de Llanes in Asturian language) is a municipality of the province of Asturias, in northern Spain. Stretching for about 30 km along the coast at the extreme east of the province, Llanes is bounded to the south by the high ridge of the limestone Sierra del Cuera, which rises to over 1,100 m. The region is part of the Costa Verde (Green Coast) of Spain, which is known for its spectacular coastal scenery, with 32 white sand beaches, and mountains covered with a deep green mantle. Llanes lies to the north of the Picos de Europa, a mountain range whose geology is almost entirely of limestone karst.

Most of the inhabitants of the district live on the coastal plain, on which the largest town is Llanes itself, with a population of about 4,000 out of the total for the district of about 13,000. The folklore, food, and fiestas of the region are famous for their colour and history.

Llanes is a traditional fishing port, with an active harbour and many notable monuments and traditions; one plaque commemorates the 65 sailors from Llanes who sailed on the three ships it fitted out for the Spanish Armada in 1588 (the Santa Ana, the San Nicolas, and the Santelmo). Parts of the surviving town walls date to 1206. Another plaque commemorates the visit of Emperor Charles V on September 26, 1517, who, when on his way to Valladolid to be crowned King of Castile, stayed for two nights before resuming his journey.

Today, Llanes is still an active fishing port, with its economy boosted by tourism (mostly by visitors from the rest of Spain) in the summer. The town has a good selection of traditional shops and restaurants, both in and around the town, and the zona de copas is lively at night in summer. Three beaches and a spectacular cliff-top walk, the Paseo de San Pedro, add to the coastal atmosphere.

The landmark old Theatre (the Teatro Benevente), built as part of the main bridge over the river, was pulled down in the 1990s, but an exploration of the back streets of the town is always worthwhile, specially the romanic-gothic Basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Near Llanes is the village of Porrúa, noted for its Ethnographical Museum.