The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community in the north of Spain surrounded by mountains such as: Los Picos de Europa, Parque Nacional de Covadonga and Parque Natural de Somiedo, incredible places to admire the wonderful natural landscape. The region borders Galicia to the west, the Cantabrian Sea to the north, Cantabria to the east and Castile and León to the south.
In the Principality of Asturias, Spanish (Castilian) is officially spoken, but two other unofficial languages are also spoken: Asturian and Eonavian.
The term Asturias comes from its ancient inhabitants, the astures, who lived on the banks of the river Astura (Esla).
The community has a great artistic heritage, mainly in Romanesque style.
As a result of the pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela, religious monuments such as Monasterio de San Pedro de Villanueva and Santa María del Junco in Ribadesella arose. The cathedral of Oviedo is a magnificent example and an important symbol of Gothic art in the region.
The Principality of Asturias is also a mountainous and coastal community that has a great deal of natural enclaves and beaches of different types, where water sports, such as surfing and fishing, can be played.
Along the coast on which Llanes extends, there are beaches and cliffs with paths for pleasant walks like the Paseo de San Pedro, a park with spectacular views of the sea and the town.
There are many festivals of historical and cultural interest in which people can immerse themselves in the local culture, such as the Descenso internacional del Sella, which is celebrated on the first Saturday of August after the 2nd day of the month, a great recreational and festive event in which canoeists row 20 km along the river Sella between the Arriondas Bridge and the Ribadesella Bridge; and the Día de Asturias in Gijón.
However, another way to delve deeper into the identity of the territory is to visit the cities that preserve precious treasures in their museums and civil and religious buildings. Over the centuries, palaces, Renaissance cloisters, neoclassical facades and modernist buildings arose that highlight a historical process in constant evolution. In the city of Oviedo, there are interesting examples of pre-Romanesque native architecture, painting and goldsmithing, such as Santa María del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo, San Julián de los Prados and the Cathedral of San Salvador; and in the municipality of Ribadesella, the Church of Santa María de Junco. Part of the Roman walls and thermal baths of Gijon are still visible.
In addition, the Holy Chamber of the Cathedral of Oviedo is a monument declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Among the museums and cultural centres of interest in the Principality of Asturias there are the Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias and the Reception and Interpretation Centre of Asturian Pre-Romanesque in the city of Oviedo; the LABoral Center of Art and Industrial Creation in the city of Gijón; and the Tito Bustillo Cave Art Centre in the municipality of Ribadesella.
Tasting the local gastronomy is also a way to get to know the roots of the Principality of Asturias and its genuine native products. Therefore, visiting some cities or places that include these elements is to live a direct and complete experience of Asturian culture.
The coastal city of Gijón preserves traces of its past in its museums and its historic centre, and its medieval and modern architecture in its churches, houses and palaces. It also has a great variety of green spaces such as the Santa Catalina Park on the hill overlooking the Cantabrian Sea, and the Atlantic Botanical Garden which preserves the natural heritage of the North Atlantic; an exquisite gastronomy recognized at a national level; beaches and coves of uncontaminated beauty and much more. Read more about Gijón here.
Llanes is a municipality with wonderful beaches and an interesting cultural and natural heritage. The cultural heritage of Llanes includes churches, palaces and buildings of historical interest. It also features the Paseo de San Pedro, a park located along a cliff offering spectacular views; delicious cuisine; interesting traditional festivals; and a work of art in the port. Read more about Llanes here.
The origins of Oviedo date back to the Middle Ages. The king of Asturias, Alfonso II, made fortify the city and build churches and palaces in the 9th century. Relics from the time of Alfonso II can be found in the Cathedral of Oviedo. Besides the city is an interesting tourist attraction for its cultural heritage; it preserves the Asturian pre-Romanesque art, which developed between the 9th and 10th centuries, in some buildings declared world heritage by UNESCO. To learn more about what to see in Oviedo, read here.
Finally, Ribadesella is a coastal town famous for an event that takes place on the first Saturday of August after day 2, the Descenso Internacional del Sella by canoes. The municipality has an important cultural heritage due to the prehistoric sites in caves in the area. To learn more about what to see in Ribadesella read here.
