Peñas de Oro

An area of outstanding natural and cultural value. Access is from Bitoriano, and there is a car-park 200 m from the shrine. The panoramic views from this spot are a hiker's delight: taking in the whole Zuia valley, the Gorbeia massif and the hills of Badaia and Arrato.

The vegetation is also extremely attractive, with mixed beech and oak woods teeming with bird life (including sparrowhawks, kestrels and peregrine falcons). Geologically, the area is a chalk bed overlying the Triassic gypsum and clay of the Zuia valley, forming a diapir.

The shrine of Oro is the most important place of worship in Zuia. The present shrine was built in the 16th century, but the figure of the Virgin Mary kept there dates from the 13th century. Work on the shrine is carried out by the centuries-old Brotherhood of Oro, which has almost 2000 members. Their chief celebration is held on the first Sunday in September. *Mass: Sundays, at 13.00 o?clock"