To the east is the municipality of Cabrillanes and to the southeast, Murias de Paredes, both in León.

The climate is characterised by warm, sunny summers contrasting with cold winters.

[3] In the area lies the hamlet of Villabandin, which is one of the "Dying villages" written about by the Scottish poet Tom Pow.

Two of the four coal-fired power stations in the autonomous community of Castile and León are adjacent to this road, the northernmost one being at Anllares del Sil, just south of Villablino.

The town may have been called after the Roman general Pliny who was outlawed from Rome and installed himself here with his family and retainers in the San Mames (Las Rozas).