This situation ended in the 16th century, when Felipe II confiscated the land to incorporate it into the Crown's domains and the local population formed its own council.

In the centuries that followed, voices in favour of Villayón's separation from Navia's jurisdiction grew until, after the Spanish Revolution of September 1868, the new government agreed to create a municipality with its own mayor.

[4] From the 60's, this process was accelerated since the population started to leave the municipality for places with better work prospects in Central Asturias and in other European countries.

[5] Today, the remaining population commutes to Navia to work and the economy is boosted by tourists who come to explore its natural attractions, such as the Oneta waterfalls, declared a National Monument by Spain.

In recent years, Villayón has exported successfully its local produced fabas, a variety of white beans that is mainly used for preparing traditional Asturian dishes, such as pote or fabada.

[4] Consequently, parishes are divided in four groups depending on their dominant language:[16] Villayón is know for its gastronomy, which fairly similar to the rest of Asturias.