Principality of Asturias - Principado de Asturias

Santa Cruz of TenerifeThe Gran Canarian palmsPortugalAndorraFranceGibraltarMoroccoAlgeriaCeutaMelillaCadizHuelvaSevilleMalagagrenadeAlmeriaMurcia regionAlicanteBalearic IslandsCordovaJaenAlbaceteValenciaCastellonTarragonaBarcelonaGironaLleidaBadajozReal cityHuescaCáceresToledoBasinTeruelSaragossaNavarreGuadalajaraMadridAvilaSalamancaSoriaSegoviaValladolidZamoraGuipúzcoaBiscayAlavaBurgosThe RiojaCantabriaPalenciaLionAsturiasLugoCorunnaOurensePontevedra
Location of the Principality of Asturias in Spain.
Location of the Principality of Asturias.

Asturias is a region in the north of Spain, located in the narrow strip between the Cantabrian Sea and the Cantabrian Mountains, thus forming part of the so-called "Green Spain", and it is this geographical situation that has made it the holder of the nickname of Little Switzerland, due to the greenness of its meadows and the height of its peaks.

It is bordered to the east by Cantabria, west with Galicia, to the north with the Cantabrian Sea and to the south with Castile and Leon through the aforementioned Cantabrian mountain range - Picos de Europa

Cities

  • Oviedo It is the capital of the autonomous community and the most important administrative center, the city is very touristy due to the numerous samples of existing pre-Roman art, such as the churches of Sta. Maria del Naranco and that of S. Miguel de Lillo. The most interesting is the completely pedestrianized old town.
  • Gijon (Xixon), the largest city in the principality, has beaches and a railway museum.
  • Aviles near the airport it is mostly industrial, but it has several museums and old buildings.
  • Langreo it is industrial, with a mining museum.
  • 5 Villaviciosa It is a cider town on the coast.
  • 6 Llastres , a small fishing port, is one of the most attractive towns in the region.
  • 7 Luanco it is a fishing village with an interesting historical center, beautiful beaches and many palatial buildings from the 18th century.
  • 8 Ribadesella It has a cave decorated with prehistoric art. In August it hosts the Downriver rowing race.
  • 9 Covadonga , site of the first Christian victory against the Moors, in AD 722. The Sanctuary of Covadonga is a set of religious buildings that commemorate it.
  • 10 Chess It is an attractive town, center of the Fuentes del Narcea National Park.

Other destinations

The main tourist centers in Asturias are:

  • In the West: Luarca, Cudillero, Tapia de casariego, Somiedo, Teverga, Los Oscos.
  • In the Center: Luanco and Candás, Montaña Central and Valles Mineros.
  • In the East: Llanes, Cangas de Onis (Covadonga) and the Picos de Europa, Ribadesella, Villaviciosa or Lastres (Current San Martín del Sella in the "Doctor Mateo" Series)

Understand

History

When the Moors began their invasion of Spain in the 8th century, the mountainous territory of Asturias was difficult to conquer, and this region became a refuge for Christian nobles. In 722, an independent kingdom was established de facto , which became the cradle of the incipient Reconquista (Reconquista).

In the 10th century, the Kingdom of Asturias gave way to the Kingdom of León Through the rebellion of Prince Enrique (later Enrique II of Castile) in the 14th century, the Principality of Asturias was established. Since 1388, the heir to the Castilian throne (later Spanish) has been called "Prince of Asturias". Since June 2014, the title has been held by Leonor, Princess of Asturias.

In the 18th century Asturias was one of the centers of the Spanish Enlightenment. The Industrial Revolution came to Asturias after 1830 with the discovery and systematic exploitation of coal mines and iron factories in the Nalón and Caudal mining basins. At the same time, there was a significant migration to the Americas (especially Argentina, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Mexico); those who succeeded abroad often returned home much richer. These businessmen were collectively known as 'indianos', having visited and made their fortunes in the West Indies and beyond. The heritage of these wealthy families can still be seen in Asturias today: many large 'modernist' villas are scattered throughout the region, as well as cultural institutions such as free schools and public libraries.

Since 1981 Asturias is an autonomous community within Spain.

Weather

The region has a maritime climate. It receives a lot of annual rain and little sunlight by Spanish standards and has very moderate seasons, most of the time averaging 20 degrees Celsius lower. Heat waves are rare because the mountains block the south winds. Winters are very mild for latitude, especially near sea level.

To get

Highway:

  • The main access road from the plateau is the AP-66 and the A-6.
  • The A-8 connects Asturias with the rest of the Cantabrian Coast.

Train:

  • RENFE and the old FEVE trains run in Asturias, a company incorporated into Renfe Operadora
  • Plane:

Asturias Airport (located in Santiago del Monte) carries out national and international flights through the companies: Iberia, Volotea and Air Europa. You can hire a taxi at the airport in advance by calling 985 252500, while the bus services are provided by the company ALSA.

Travel

The road network in Asturias is one of the most advanced in the country, with many kilometers of motorway, all free (there is a toll on the way to León), the first and second order roads are in very good condition, however due to the Difficult orography of the territory and the unequal demographic distribution, there are sparsely populated areas with lower quality communications, mainly in the southwestern area, although the works of the La Espina highway (with part currently in use 10/2008) will substantially improve these regions Traffic is not usually a problem either, except on the Y highway that connects Oviedo-Gijon-Aviles and the accesses to Oviedo and Gijon at peak times.

The limits are those of the rest of the country and the radars proliferate lately throughout the network of roads and highways.

Talk

In Asturias the traveler can communicate perfectly in Spanish, the official language of all Spain, but as in other regions of this, in Asturias there is a language of its own, mainly spoken in rural areas, Bable or Astur-Leones. It is also spoken in the old provinces of the Kingdom of León although with different nuances depending on the site.

The knowledge of English is still scarce among the population of more than 40 years, although young people are beginning to regain lost ground with the rest of their European neighbors and more and more are used in English and even other neighboring languages ​​such as Spanish. French.

Know the Region

Asturias is a region where nature dominates the landscape. Wherever we go, the color green dominates everywhere. The dense forests of some areas of Asturias hold some of the greatest natural treasures in Spain. From tiny endangered flowers on our beaches, to the large brown bears hidden in the heart of our forests, it is a region to satisfy our eyes with the nature that we can contemplate.

From the lowest beech forest above sea level in the entire Peninsula, to the largest yew forest in the same. From the largest dinosaur footprints in Europe (and the second largest in the world) to the tiny footprints of a dormouse.

It is always better to be able to take guided tours by biologists or geologists who can unravel the secrets and mysteries of poisonous or medicinal plants, the distribution of vegetation, the fauna that we see, as the company offers us ASPRA Natural Resources, located in Colunga and operating in the Central East of the region.

Some of these companies carry out nature interpretation routes, both for individuals having days organized for specific excursions that anyone can sign up for, and for groups, as can be seen in some videos

There are also different centers of interpretation of nature such as the one of the Sierra del Sueve, in the council of Colunga and which is dedicated to this beautiful coastal mountain range

Go shopping

To eat

Fabada. Bean stew based on typical Asturian white beans, red chorizo, black pudding (blood sausage) and diced bacon.

Cheese. In Asturias there are more than a hundred different cheeses. The best known is Cabrales cheese. Cabrales cheese is produced only in the town of the same name and in three towns in the Peñamellera Alta district, located in the northern foothills of the Picos de Europa in eastern Asturias. This is undoubtedly the best known Spanish blue cheese for the way in which goats jealously guard their origin and authenticity; and one of the great blue cheeses in the world. Also its highly recommended Gamoneu cheese, which is considered one of the best cheeses in Europe, is a special type of blue cheese, similar to Cabrales, but softer and more solid, quite expensive and difficult to find.

Frixuelos: They are very similar to French crepes (they actually have the same origin as the Celtic / Atlantic arc cuisine), and are eaten as a dessert.

Cachopo: It is a delicious breaded and fried kid of ham and cheese "sandwich", the cachopo is a bit similar to Cordon Bleu but much larger. Make sure you eat it in a good place, as many places will use cheaper ingredients and you won't get the real one.

Arroz con Leche: It is a rice pudding dessert, also very popular made only in Asturias, each place has its own recipe.

In general it is recommended to eat in small towns or places far from the city center, the quality of the food will always be better and of course more affordable prices. When you eat in a central place, you will pay more for the location than for the food.

Fabes:
Casa Vieja del Sastre Hotel-Restaurant [1] in Soto de Luiña-Cudillero

Tapas and portions:
In Cudillero, cider house restaurant El Remo [2], just behind the old fish market of the old port, in a narrow street. A magnificent, small place where the locals go and have magnificent portions, good cider, good fish and seafood, average price 12 euros (May 2009).

Drink and go out

Cider. Made with local apples, such as Raxao and Xuanina. The peculiar way it is served is called "pouring," dropping the cider from the bottle's grip with one hand above the head while the special thin and wide glass is held with the other hand below hip level.

Calimocho, made from red wine, Coca-Cola, and blackberry syrup or plain is delicious and fun when used to play Hard (see above).

Sleep

  • Rural apartments Antojanes, Granda, Siero; 6 km from Oviedo [3]in the center of Asturias.
  • Hotel Restaurant Casa Vieja del Sastre, Soto de Luiña[4]
  • Hotel Rural Aguas del Narcea, Corias - Asturias [5]
  • Rural house, Casa del Campo, Lamuño [6]
  • Hotel Casona Selgas, El Pito - Cudillero [7]
  • The Rural Hotel Puerta del Oriente of tourist quality since 2004, in Tresgrandas (Llanes).

[8]

  • The Casona de Tresgrandas, LLanes, Asturias [9]
  • Generous Rural House, Tresgrandas, Llanes [10]
  • Tourist apartments Gijón, Gijón. [11]

Respect

The nature of the region, unique in Europe.

Health

Surroundings

  • Galicia: Rugged, mountainous and with an extensive coastline, this western region has many similarities with Asturias, but retains its own traditions, such as its own language and unique cuisine.

external links