Pilgrimage of Virgin of Aquiana

1.00 Días Ponferrada – Surroundings 05/07/2026

Ruined hermitage on Pico Aquiana. Spectacular panoramic views of El Bierzo. Legend and traditional pilgrimage in August.

INFORMATION

📍 Location and contact

  • Address: At the Hermitage of the Virgen de la Aquiana, located on Pico Aquiana, part of the Montes Aquilianos, southeast of Ponferrada.
    • Postal address: 24415 Ponferrada, León, Spain.
  • Coordinates: Approximately Latitude: 42.44177° N, Longitude: 6.60241° W.
  • Approximate date: Annually on the first Sunday of August.
  • Websites:
    • Ponferrada City Council website: may provide details about the annual pilgrimage.
    • Hiking blogs and websites for El Bierzo: describe routes to Pico Aquiana, such as Wikiloc - Ruta Aquiana.
  • Social media: Individual users on Instagram and Facebook often share photos of the hike using hashtags like #VirgenDeLaAquiana, #PicoAquiana, #MontesAquilianos, or #ElBierzo.

♿ Accessibility: No. The Hermitage of the Virgen de la Aquiana is not accessible for people with reduced mobility or wheelchair users. Access is via mountain hiking trails.

  • Uneven terrain: Mountain paths are irregular and have slopes, making wheelchairs impossible.
  • Challenging climb: Depending on the route (e.g., from Pobladura de la Sierra or Montes de Valdueza), the ascent can be strenuous and requires good physical condition.
  • On foot only: The hermitage can only be reached by walking. No paved road reaches the summit.
✨Religious 📜History 🪁Other activities 🏛️Heritage
Festival

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Pico Aquiana is a place full of magic and legends in the popular culture of El Bierzo.

  • Legend of the Seven Sisters: Some versions connect Pico Aquiana with the legend of the Seven Sisters, which in turn is linked to the Pleiades.
  • Restoration of the hermitage: A lover of El Bierzo restored the hermitage years ago, reviving interest in the site.

The pilgrimage is also an opportunity to enjoy hiking in the area.

  • Access from Montes de Valdueza: There are circular routes starting from Montes de Valdueza that ascend to Pico Aquiana.
  • Access from Campo de las Danzas: It can also be accessed from Campo de las Danzas, which serves as the meeting point during the pilgrimage.

Recommendations

Roman Channels. From the Aquilianos to Las Médulas.

The Roman Channels are an astonishing tourist attraction of ancient engineering, with hundreds of kilometers of channels that carried water for gold mining in Las Médulas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ruta de los monjes Tebaida

La Ruta de los Monjes (Senda de los Monjes) is a well-known hiking trail in the Leonese region of El Bierzo, forming part of the Tebaida Berciana, a historic area declared a Cultural Heritage Site (Bien de Interés Cultural), renowned for having been a refuge for hermits and monks more than a thousand years ago.

Espinoso de Compludo

Espinoso de Compludo is a traditional Bierzo village, notable for rural architecture, cobbled streets and exceptional natural surroundings.