The capital of the municipality of Parres is Arriondas and it's settled in the basin of river Sella, in a valley surrounded by mountains. Arriondas is a privileged enclave for lovers of outdoor activities and extreme sports.
Making the descent of the Sella by canoe is very affordable to the pocket and to the state of shape of each one.
Its proximity to the National Park of the Picos de Europa, just 18 kilometers from Cangas de Onís, its immediate proximity to the beautiful Sierra del Sueve, and the coast, just half an hour from the beaches of Ribadesella and Llanes, make it an unbeatable starting point to know the region and plan excursions. At present, Arriondas is world famous for organizing the departure of International descent of the Sella. It has a prosperous development of services and industry, the latter mainly based in the wood and furniture sector.
It limits to the north with the councils of Colunga, Caravia and Ribadesella; to the south with those of Amieva and Ponga; to the east with Cangas de Onís; and to the west with the council of Piloña.
Its central-eastern position on the map, some 17 kilometers from Ribadesella and many others from Piloña, on the east and west respectively, make it an obligatory passage through the N-634.
The oldest archaeological sites that are in the council are from the Paleolithic period.
During the low age, the manor preserves of Fuentes, Las Arriondas and Llames de Parres are established. Inside of the church of San Miguel, in Cofiñu, we will be able to observe one of the best samples of the Asturian Romanesque art, with a chronology that responds to the XII and XIII centuries and that the authors ascribe to the best Romanesque workshops of the region. The first decade of the nineteenth century was marked by the war of independence, with the destruction of the real National Factory of tin, the first known industry in the council. The arrival of the 20th century brings the railway line, definitely completing the Oviedo-Santander line. All this, together with the arrival of the capitals of the Indians, is a huge boom for the whole council.
In Arriondas and Fíos are the most significant buildings of the indiana architecture. Among others, it is also worth mentioning in Arriondas: Villa de los Valle, Villa Juanita. In Fios the most remarkable is the Abarca chalet.
Parres also has an important ethnographic heritage. Picturesque towns such as Cofiñu, Llames de Parres, Arenas de Parres and San Martín de Bada, which offer important sets of popular architecture. Another interesting route through the history of the council is that of the mills concentrated in the rivers of La Pontiga, Chicu, Mampodre, Viabañu and Tresmonte.
Parres was a pioneer council also the tourist development of the Principality, mainly with the organization in 1930 of the first descent of the Sella, main party and event of the council and of Asturias.
-International descent of the Sella, in Arriondas, first Saturday of August.
-The Bollu or La Peruyal, in Arriondas, last Sunday of July.
-Virgen del Carmen, in Arriondas in July.
-Santa Rita, in Arriondas, 22 de Mayo.
-The Ramos in Llames and Castiello, 4 in September.
-San Miguel in Cofiño, 29 in September.
-Monthly weekly market on Saturdays, in Arriondas.
-Contest of Gandos Exhibition of the East of Asturias, in Arriondas, in July.
-Fest of the Chestnut, in Arriondas, November.