Month: January 2023

The first place I want to write about in this blog is the place where I was born and where most of my Spanish family lives, and that is Oviedo. Oviedo is a very interesting and unique city, both on a local and national scale. It has many different features that make it special, from its charming old-town, to its university, and many other beautiful places to visit. In this blog I will write about some of the best places in the city.

The Cathedral

When one looks at the Oviedo skyline, one building stands out very clearly: the Cathedral. Originally build in the 8th Century, the Cathedral was expanded multiple times. Its iconic main tower was built in the mid-16th Century. The inside is just as beautiful as the outside, with huge arches and a small museum. It also houses some iconic artifacts from the 9th Century, including a large golden cross. The Plaza de la Catedral is an excellent place to sit down and have a cup of coffee at one of its many cafes.

Plaza/mercado del Fontán

Located rather close to the Cathedral, la Plaza del Fontán is the site of an outdoor market that has been held for centuries. In 1885 a large building was erected and you can buy local products, such as cheeses, meats, and vegetables there. On some days, outdoor stalls are still set up which sell other goods. It is one of the most bustling parts of the city on any given day, and a great place to spend the morning.

El Monte Naranco

Mount Naranco, a small mountain that looms over the city, offers a beautiful drive with great views to the city. In addition, the summit of the mountain has a large statue, known as El Cristo del Naranco. There are a few hiking and biking trails on the mountain, and a restaurant near the top as well. Two extremely old chapels, Santa María del Naranco and san Miguel de Lillo are located on the mountain as well.

Campo de San Francisco

Once the site of an old monastery, El Campo de San Francisco is a large park located right in the middle of the city. The park has everything from fountains, to an outdoor stage, to a skatepark. Huge chestnut trees grow within it, and in fall, the nuts can be taken and roasted. The highlight of the park, especially for little kids, is el Barquillero, a man who sells wafer cookies out of a big red cylindrical cart.

All in all, the capital of Asturias has a great deal of things to do. Its streets are very friendly to walkers, and one can enjoy local food at one of its many restaurants, such as El Ovetense. The people there are very friendly and helpful, and because of this, Oviedo is one of the most underrated cities to visit in all of Spain.

Top: the Cathedral

Bottom: The Oviedo Skyline

Although I have lived almost my entire life in the United States, I consider the region of Asturias, in Spain, to be my second home, as most of my mother’s family still lives there and I still visit them every summer. In this blog, I hope to recount my favorite places in the province, from towns, to cities, to beaches and mountains. The history, geography, cuisine, and culture of Asturias is extremely unique and rich, just like the people who call it home.

Asturias is located on the northern extreme of the Iberian Peninsula, about equidistant from the Portuguese and French borders. The wedge-shaped region is one of the 17 “Comunidades Autonomas”, or Autonomous Communities of Spain. Unlike many other parts of Spain, it is not known for a hot dry climate, but a very wet and cool one, resembling England and Ireland much more than the rest of the country. Because of this, the region is nicknamed “Green Spain”. Asturias is split into three sub-regions, the West, the Center, and East, and all three have very distinct ways of life themselves. Asturias has three large cities, the capital, Oviedo, located in the center of the province, Gijón, its largest city, located directly north of Oviedo on the coast, and Avilés, a smaller city located west of Gijón. The three cities are connected by a freeway known as the “Y”, and most of Asturias’ population lives here.

The coast of Asturias outside of Gijón and Avilés is stunning, with beaches, harbors, and cliffs. The interior of the province is equally stunning, with steep, white limestone mountains known as the Picos de Europa. The coast and the mountains mark the traditional industries of Asturias, mining and fishing. The coasts were once hubs for fishing and whaling fleets, and the mountains were home to two major coal mining basins. However, Spain’s admittance to the European Union in the 1980s curbed both industries so severely that today, they are all gone. Over the last 40 years, Asturias has seen a massive population decline in almost all of its former mining and fishing towns, leaving the majority of the province empty and abandoned. Along with the cold, wet weather, and rugged, inhospitable terrain, these traditional industries shaped the attitude of the population of Asturias into a tough, resilient, resourceful, and gritty people.

Despite the massive loss of jobs and income, the absence of the mining and fishing industries have brought a lot of good to Asturias. Behind all the coal dust and heavy industry lie some of the most stunning landscapes in the world.  In the summer, people from all across Europe flock to the province to enjoy the mountains, the sea, and the comparatively mild weather. The rivers, which once ran black because of the mining, are now pristine and beautiful. Their native salmon populations are slowly rebounding, creating a new sport fishing industry. The Picos de Europa Mountains, still pock-marked with old mine openings, are now home to some of the best rock climbing and hiking in all of Spain. However, Asturias’ most famous tourist destination by far is its coast. From its western to eastern tip, the towns which were once fueled by tuna fishing and whaling are now the sites of many people’s vacation homes. Staying in a small town in Asturias in the summer is one of the most unique experiences someone can have, as the small town attitude of the locals combines with the big city culture of the vacationers, creating and extremely fun time.

I love Asturias, and I cannot wait to write about all my favorite places and experiences in it!

Top: the Picos de Europa Mountains

Bottom: One of the hundreds of beaches Asturias has to offer

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