The Canoe Festival, also known as the International Descent of the River Sella, is one of the most popular festivals, not only in Asturias and Spain, but also internationally.
This important event is held on the first Saturday in August, just a few kilometres from the Picos de Europa.
Practised since 1929 along the stretch of river between the towns of Arriondas and Ribadesella, the descent of the Sella, or as the Asturians affectionately call it, "Les Piragües", has become increasingly famous over time and today attracts competitors of up to 15 different nationalities.
This festival of a markedly sporting nature also has a recreational background, mixing all the charm and interest of a canoe race in calm waters with a purely Asturian festival, all in a spectacular and incomparable setting, on the waters and banks of the River Sella.
This canoe race is one of the oldest in the world and its origin is linked to that of Spanish competitive canoeing in calm waters.
This sporting event is linked to the name of Dionisio de la Huerta. The love of sport of this man from Barcelona with an Asturian father led him to buy a canoe with which to explore the rivers of Asturias.
Between 1929 and 1931, Dionisio, accompanied by a group of friends, made the descent of the river Sella from Arriondas to Ribadesella on numerous occasions.
This great sporting event cannot miss any of the obligatory ingredients of a good typical Asturian festival: music, parade of charangas, cider, and the "Asturias Patria Querida" marking the start of the race.
The stamp shows a typical image repeated year after year, in which you can see the agglomeration of participants already prepared on the river, with their canoes, ready to enjoy an unforgettable experience, where nature, sport and celebration come together for a day.
