oviedo

Oviedo

Oviedo is the capital of the Asturian region. We can recapture the atmosphere and spirit of the city from its palatial origins and at the same time enjoy the comfort of a clean, modern and well-kept city. Oviedo maintains a cosmopolitan air, enveloped in the noble, cultured and spiritual climate, which king Alfonso II endowed upon the city when he chose it as his Royal Seat.

You will find a legacy of monuments, which its kings bequeathed to Oviedo. A whole millennium of art is represented in the city centre, from the 8th to the 18th centuries.

Oviedo has twelve National Monuments, which include the most important examples of Asturian pre- Romanesque architecture. Visitors must not miss the opportunity to visit the renowned Gothic Cathedral San Salvador. One of the relics held by the cathedral is a piece of cloth measuring approximately 84 x 53 cm. The remarkable thing about this cloth is that both tradition and scientific studies claim that the cloth was used to cover and clean the face of Jesus after the crucifixion. A whole circle of thriving industry has grown up around its centuries-old centre. Its cultural institutions, the University, Institute of Asturian Studies, Museums, Athenaeum, the "Caja de Ahorros Cultural Endeavors" attract the most diversified visitor.

Oviedo offers an entirely different perspective of Spanish's things. It replaces refreshing Gazpacho with a hearty fabada, Flamenco with the Celtic bagpipe, and Jug of sangria with bottles of cider. Cider houses, or sidrerìas, are scattered all throughout Oviedo, but perhaps the easiest way to get acquainted with the drink is to go to Calle Gascona, a pedestrian road right outside of old town that is lined with sidrerìas. Although the cider tradition also exists in the Basque country, Asturians claim to be the pioneers of the drink and take particular pride in its pouring and production.

Discover Asturias

The following links will take you to the different cities in Asturias:

avilEs | gijOn | oviedo