The Covadonga Sanctuary is a dramatic sacred complex built into and around a limestone cliff cave in the Picos de Europa mountains of Asturias, northern Spain. Visitors today encounter both the famous holy cave — a natural grotto housing a chapel and, according to tradition, the tomb of the Visigothic warrior Pelayo — and a grand neo-Romanesque basilica near the summit, along with a statue dedicated to Pelayo himself. The site sits in strikingly alpine terrain, a world away from Spain's Mediterranean coastline, and has drawn Catholic pilgrims for centuries. Gates visited Covadonga while investigating the historicity of the Pelayo legend, describing it as "the most dramatic location for a chapel I've ever seen — literally perched on a cliff." The sanctuary is closely tied to what tradition holds was the Battle of Covadonga around 722 AD, widely regarded as the symbolic starting point of the centuries-long Reconquista. Because no Wikipedia data was available for this entry, specific dimensions and visitor statistics are not confirmed and all details should be treated as approximate.
The legendary Battle of Covadonga is traditionally held to have taken place here, with the Visigothic leader Pelayo reportedly defeating an Umayyad force — an event considered the symbolic beginning of the Reconquista
Early Christian veneration of the cave site is believed to have begun shortly after the battle, according to local tradition
The neo-Romanesque basilica near the summit is believed to have been constructed in the late 19th century, though exact dates are not confirmed here
Gates visits Covadonga during Season 12 of Expedition Unknown to investigate the legend of Pelayo alongside medieval historian Robert Portass
Medieval historian Robert Portass, whom Gates meets inside the holy cave, provides the historical scaffolding for the Pelayo story. As Portass explains on camera, the narrative begins with the collapse of the Roman Empire in the fifth century, the emergence of the Visigothic Kingdom across the Iberian Peninsula, and the decisive Umayyad invasion of 711 AD that destroyed the Visigothic capital at Toledo and swept through most of the country. It is against that backdrop that Pelayo — a Visigothic noble — is said to have led a Christian resistance that scored a pivotal, if numerically modest, victory at Covadonga.
Mainstream historians generally agree that some form of conflict likely occurred in this region around 722 AD, and that Pelayo was a real historical figure who became the first king of Asturias. However, the details of the battle — its scale, its precise location, and the degree to which it was truly a turning point rather than a minor skirmish — remain subjects of genuine scholarly debate. Medieval chronicles, written well after the events they describe, tend to dramatize Pelayo's victory, and separating legend from verifiable history is exactly the kind of problem Portass was brought on to address.
The cave itself has been a site of Catholic veneration for centuries, and the presence of what is claimed to be Pelayo's tomb has made it one of the most symbolically charged locations in Spanish national identity. Whether the tomb's contents are authentic is not confirmed by the episode, and Gates is careful to describe it as the 'supposed' resting place — a hedge that reflects the honest state of the evidence.
Gates' visit to Covadonga functions as an orientation episode — establishing the mythological and geographical stakes of the Pelayo investigation rather than delivering a definitive finding. The episode's value lies in grounding the legend in real terrain and real scholarly conversation, with Portass walking Gates (and viewers) through why the story matters and why it resists easy confirmation.
According to tradition, Pelayo is said to have been elected the first king of Asturias following the Battle of Covadonga, making the sanctuary ground zero for a kingdom that eventually evolved into modern Spain.
The holy cave of Covadonga is also home to a venerated statue of the Virgin Mary known as 'La Santina,' who is considered the patron of Asturias and draws pilgrims independently of the Pelayo legend.
Gates described the chapel inside the cliff cave as possibly 'the most dramatic location for a chapel I've ever seen' — high praise from a host who has visited sacred sites across six continents.
The Picos de Europa mountains surrounding Covadonga were designated one of Spain's earliest national parks, giving the sanctuary a spectacular and protected natural backdrop that has changed little since Pelayo's era.
The Covadonga Sanctuary is generally accessible to visitors as a public pilgrimage and tourist site within the Picos de Europa region of Asturias; the holy cave and basilica are both typically open, though visitors should check current local schedules for chapel services and any seasonal access restrictions. The winding mountain road to the upper sanctuary area can become congested during peak pilgrimage seasons, so arriving early or using local transport is advisable.
Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, is approximately 75 kilometers west of Covadonga and serves as the main regional hub for travelers.
Late spring through early autumn (May to September) generally offers the most stable mountain weather and clearest views, though summer months can bring significant crowds of pilgrims and tourists. September 8th, the feast of the Virgin of Covadonga, is a particularly significant date and draws large gatherings.
La Garma Cave
La Garma Cave is also located in the Cantabrian mountains of northern Spain, placing it in the same broader region and sharing themes of ancient sacred or historically significant use of natural cave systems.
Rome
Rome is central to the history of the late Roman Empire whose collapse set the stage for the Visigothic Kingdom and ultimately the events at Covadonga — a direct historical thread Portass traces on camera.
Scotland
The Reconquista and medieval Christian resistance movements that Covadonga symbolizes have thematic parallels with other Gates investigations into legendary battles and contested historical turning points across Europe.