Peninsula and Baleares

Asturias (Oviedo)

Natural paradise

Asturias is one of Spain's natural jewels. It also has a rich history that has made it one of the main national tourist attractions.

From the high peaks of the Picos de Europa, to its coasts bathed by the Cantabrian Sea, its steep cliffs and its green valleys, the Principality of Asturias exudes nature on all four sides for the traveller.

Its attractions also include prehistoric sites, cave paintings, medieval fortresses, monuments that bear witness to the beginning of the Reconquest and modern cities that perfectly combine respect for tradition with the most avant-garde architecture.

As if this were not enough, it has a rich gastronomy with internationally renowned products. All of this is accompanied by its people, who are friendly and always welcome foreigners with open arms.

Santa Iglesia Basílica Catedral Metropolitana de San Salvador: one of the finest examples of Gothic art. In addition to its façade, it stands out for the relics it protects inside and for the Holy Chamber, which dates from the 9th century and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Among its secrets, the traveller can see the Cross of the Angels, the Cross of Victory and the Box of Agates, symbols of the whole of Asturias and great examples of art from the High Middle Ages.

Fontán market: maintains the charm of Asturian tradition and hosts the city's market. As well as being a meeting place for the locals, it is the perfect place to learn more about the capital's past since the old playhouse used to be in the same square.

Fragment of the old wall: in Calle Peso we can see a piece of the old wall that protected the city and which was built in the 13th century.

Plaza de la Constitución: another of Oviedo's social centres where one can find some of the city's most important buildings such as the City Hall and the Church of San Isidoro.

Campoamor Theatre: as well as being the cultural centre of the city, its interior is sure to be familiar to you. This is because it hosts the Princess of Asturias awards ceremony every year.

Plaza Trascorrales: you will find a statue of a milkmaid in this square, a sign of the city's tradition and connection with the rural world.

Campo de San Francisco: this enormous park is the great lung of Oviedo. Among its trees it is possible to visit the ruins of the now disappeared Convent of San Francisco.

Museums in Oviedo: the Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias is located in Calle Santa Ana. Nor should you miss the Archaeological Museum, which can be reached via Calle San Vicente and allows us to travel from prehistoric times to the time of the Kingdom of Asturias.

Cachopo: although nowadays we can find some varieties in the recipe, the traditional dish consists of two veal fillets between which cheese and ham are placed. It is then breaded and fried in a frying pan. It is a simple, tasty dish that can be served with potatoes or Asturian peppers.

Fabada: it is usually eaten with chorizo, black pudding and a good piece of bacon, but the most important thing is to have good Asturian beans.

Fabes with clams: a derivative of Fabada. In this case we replace the meat with delicious Cantabrian clams to enjoy all the flavour of the sea together with that of the Asturian vegetable garden.

Chorizo in cider: a very common tapa that is ideal to whet your appetite. Don't forget that the cider must be natural.

Asturian stew: this dish, which can be found in other regions of Spain with some variations, has a special character in Asturias. With beans, breza, chorizo and black pudding, it is a real delicacy.

Frixuelos: typical dessert of the Asturian cuisine, similar to the Galician filloas. Perfect to end a good meal.

Asturian cheeses: we are in a land of cheeses where you will find a great variety. Don't miss some of the most typical cheeses: Cabrales, Laperal, Gamonéum Afuega'l Pitu. Los Beyos and Casín.

Cider: a typical drink of the Principality since time immemorial, as there are pre-Roman references to its production. It is made from apples and there are three varieties, traditional, sparkling and new expression.

Oviedo is the capital of the Principality of Asturias and has a privileged location between the Bay of Biscay and the Cantabrian Mountains as well as a pleasant and humid climate. Among the curiosities of this land, we can mention that it holds the title of "very noble, very loyal, meritorious, undefeated, heroic and good".

One of the great reasons to travel to Asturias is undoubtedly to get lost in its villages, many of them living history that have an impressive historical and artistic heritage, being in a unique environment and also preserve a typical architecture which in many cases will even take you back in time.

Although logically there are many examples and many choices of beautiful villages in Asturias where you can disconnect from the city and enjoy the natural environment, we want to leave you with a selection of what we consider to be some of the essential ones that we believe are perfect to include in a trip to Asturias: Tazones, Llanes, Cudillero, Lastres, Taramundi, Ribadesella, Cangas de Onís, Luarca, Colombres and Bulnes.