Asturias

Asturias is one of the most distinctive regions in all of Spain. Located on the northern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, the area has been blessed with a stunning geography and exceptional natural richness. Young mountain ranges give way to lush green landscapes and rivers that flow down to the wide coast with its excellent beaches.

In the nature reserves of the Asturian forests the brown bear, the wolf, and the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) all make their homes, along with other protected species.

The Pre-Romanesque art of Asturias is unique in the world. It is a style that originated in the ancient Christian court of the high-medieval period (8th –9th centuries). Forced to the north by the Moorish invasion, the Christian noblemen retreated to the mountains of Asturias where they launched the counter-attack known as La Reconquista ("The Reconquest"). The monuments, art, and architecture of Oviedo and the Kingdom of Asturias have been declared World Heritage sites by the World Heritage Committee to ensure their preservation for future generations.

Asturias also teems with traces of ancient peoples; the Astures, Iberians, Celts, Romans, and Visigoths all left their mark, and the caves and rocks of the region offer ample evidence of the region’s prehistoric past.

Today Asturian settlements abound with authentic picturesque flavor, in the maritime towns and the valley hamlets and mountain villages. In contrast to these quiet towns, the geographic center of Asturias corresponds to an important urban triangle formed by Oviedo, the capital; Gijón, a city with a beautiful beach; and the more industrial town of Avilés. These varied landscapes, urban and pastoral, are united and framed by the towering mountains to the south and the ocean to the north.

Asturias is also known for its gastronomical delights. The natural (hard) cider is famous, as is the unique manner of serving it, descanting (escanciar) it from on high so that it foams up as it splashes into the glass held low in the other hand. The cheeses of the region are also superb.

The inhabitants of Asturias have long been known, and rightly so, as hospitable and friendly people. Asturias: a region that is both entirely unique and typically representative of Spain at the same time. Come see for yourself!