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| Anthem: Asturias, patria querida | |||||
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| Capital | Oviedo | ||||
| Official languages | Spanish; Asturian has special status | ||||
| Area – Total – % of Spain |
Ranked 10th 10,604 km² 2. The flag of Asturias shows the "Cruz de la Victoria" ( Victory Cross) in gold (yellow PMS 109 over blue (PMS 829 The coat of arms of Asturias ( Asturian: Escudu d'Asturies, Escudo de Asturias Escudo de Asturias) is the official Coat of arms of The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music (in Music theory and religious contexts or more generally a song (or composition of Asturias patria querida is the anthem of the Spanish autonomous community of Asturias, although it is widely regarded throughout the Spanish Oviedo ( Asturian: Uviéu is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory Asturian (Asturian Asturianu or Bable) is a Romance language of the West Iberian group, Astur-Leonese Subgroup, spoken in the Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. Here is a list of the autonomous communities of Spain in order of Area. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions Areas between 10000 km² and 100000 km² are listed here Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 1% |
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| Population – Total (2006) – % of Spain – Density |
Ranked 13th 1,076,896 2. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different Here is a list of the autonomous communities and autonomous cities of Spain in order of Population ( 2005) 4% 101,56/km² |
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| Demonym – English – Spanish – Asturian |
Asturian asturiano asturianu |
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Statute of Autonomy
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January 11, 1982 | ||||
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– Congress seats – Senate seats |
6 (4 elected, 2 appointed) |
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| President | Vicente Alberto Álvarez Areces (PSOE) | ||||
| ISO 3166-2 | O | ||||
| Gobierno del Principado de Asturias | |||||
The Principality of Asturias (Spanish: Principado de Asturias, Asturian: Principáu d'Asturies or Asturies) is an autonomous community within the kingdom of Spain, former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages. A principality (or princedom) is a monarchical feudatory or Sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of Prince Astur-Leonese is a Dialect continuum included in the West Iberian branch of the Romance languages. An autonomous community is a first-level political division of the Kingdom of Spain, established in accordance with the Spanish Constitution. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is situated on the Spanish north coast facing the Cantabrian Sea (Mar Cantábrico, the Spanish name for the Bay of Biscay). Cantabrian Sea redirects here Not to be confused with Biscay Bay Newfoundland and Labrador or Biscayne Bay. Cantabrian Sea redirects here Not to be confused with Biscay Bay Newfoundland and Labrador or Biscayne Bay.
The most important cities are the provincial capital, Oviedo (Uviéu), the seaport and largest city Gijón (Xixón), and the industrial town of Avilés. Oviedo ( Asturian: Uviéu is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. Gijón ( Asturian: Xixón) is a coastal industrial city Avilés is the name of the third most important city of Asturias, Spain. Other towns include Mieres, Langreo,(Llangréu) (with La Felguera and Sama), Luarca, Siero, Cangas de Onís (Cangues), Cangas del Narcea, Grado (Grau), Lena (Llena), Laviana (Llaviana), El Entrego (L'Entregu), Villaviciosa, Vegadeo ( A Veiga ), and Llanes. Mieres is a municipality of Asturias, Spain with approximately 45000 inhabitants Langreo, ( Asturian Llangréu) officially Llangréu / Langreo is a municipality of northern Spain, province of The Principality of Asturias La Felguera is the largest parish in the municipality of Langreo, Asturias, in the north of Spain, with 20300 inhabitants Sama ( Asturian: Sama de Llangréu) is the second largest parish in the municipality of Langreo, Asturias, in the north of Spain, with Cangas de Onís ( Asturian: Cangues d'Onís) is a municipality in the eastern part of the province and autonomous community of Asturias in the northwest Grado ( Asturian: Grau) is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. Villaviciosa is a town and concejo ( Municipality) in the autonomous community of Asturias, Spain. Vegadeo ( Eonavian: Veiga d'Eo) is a municipality in the Autonomous Community in the Principality of Asturias, Spain. Llanes (the Concejo de Llanes, Conceyu de Llanes in Asturian language) an administrative district of the province of See also List of municipalities in Asturias, Comarcas of Asturias. This is a list of the municipalities in the province and Autonomous community of Asturias, Spain. Asturias, a province and an autonomous community in Spain, is divided into eight comarcas.
Asturias is bordered on the east by Cantabria, on the south by Castilla y León, on the west by Galicia (Lugo), and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea. Cantabria is a Spanish province and Autonomous community with Santander as its capital city Castile and León (Castilla y León known formally as the Community of Castile and León is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain. Galicia (occasionally Galiza) is an autonomous community in northwest Spain. Lugo is a province of northwestern Spain, in the northeastern part of the autonomous community of Galicia. Cantabrian Sea redirects here Not to be confused with Biscay Bay Newfoundland and Labrador or Biscayne Bay.
Contents |
History
Asturias has been occupied by humans since the Lower Paleolithic era, and during the Upper Paleolithic was characterized by cave paintings in the eastern part of the area. The Lower Paleolithic (or Lower Palaeolithic) is the earliest subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. The Upper Paleolithic (or Upper Palaeolithic) is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe Africa In the Mesolithic period a native culture developed, that of the Asturiense, and later, with the introduction of the Bronze Age, megaliths and tumuli were constructed. The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for A tumulus (plural tumuli) is a Mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves In the Iron Age, the territory came under the cultural influence of the Celts; the local Celtic peoples, known as the Astures, were composed of tribes such as the Luggones, the Pesicos, and others, who populated the entire area with castros (fortified hill-towns). This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts The Astures were the original Indo-European inhabitants of the northwest area of Hispania that now comprises almost the entire modern Autonomous community A hill fort is a fortified refuge or defended settlement Today the Astur Celtic influence persists in place names, such as those of rivers and mountains. The Astures were the original Indo-European inhabitants of the northwest area of Hispania that now comprises almost the entire modern Autonomous community Toponymy refers to the scientific study of place-names ( toponyms) their origins meanings use and Typology.
With the conquest of Asturias by the Romans under Augustus (29-19 BC), the region entered into the annals of history. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was Year 29 BC was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Year 19 BC was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. History is the study of the past particularly the written record Those who study history as a Profession are called Historians Etymology After several centuries without foreign presence, the Suebi and Visigoths occupied the land from the 6th century AD to the beginning of the 8th century, ending with the Moorish invasion of Spain. The Suebi or Suevi (from Proto-Germanic * swēbaz based on the Proto-Germanic root * swē- meaning "one's own" The Visigoths (Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, or Wisi were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East The 6th century is the period from 501 to 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The 8th century is the period from 701 to 800 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The initial Arab Muslim conquests (632–732 (فتح Fatah, literally opening, also referred to as the Islamic conquests or Arab However, as it had been for the Romans and Visigoths, the Moors did not find mountainous territory easy to conquer, and the lands along Spain's northern coast never fully became part of Islamic Spain. Al-Andalus (الأندلس was the Arabic name given to those parts of the Iberian Peninsula governed by Muslims or Rather, with the beginning of the Moorish conquest in the 8th century, this region became a refuge for Christian nobles, and in 722 a de facto independent kingdom was established, the Regnum Asturorum, which was to became the cradle of the incipient Reconquista (Reconquest). A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Events By Place Americas 3 January — K'inich Ahkal Mo' Naab III takes the throne of the Maya state of Palenque The Kingdom of Asturias was the first Christian political entity to be established in the Iberian peninsula after the collapse of the Visigothic The Reconquista (a Spanish and Portuguese word for "Reconquest" Arabic: الاسترداد, "Recapturing" was a period ¹
In the 10th century, the Kingdom of Asturias gave way to the Kingdom of León, and during the Middle Ages the geographic isolation of the territory made historical references scarce. Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. Through the rebellion of Henry II of Castile in the 14th century, the Principality of Asturias was established. Henry II ( January 13, 1334 Sevilla - May 29, 1379 Santo Domingo de la Calzada) better known as Henry of Trastámara The most famous proponents of independence were Gonzalo Peláez and Queen Urraca, who while achieving significant victories were ultimately defeated by Castilian troops. The Crown of Castile, as a historic entity is usually considered to have begun in 1230 with the third and definitive union of the two kingdoms of León and Castile After its integration into the Kingdom of Spain, Asturias provided the Spanish court with high-ranking aristocrats and played an important role in the colonization of the Americas; in the 16th century the population reached 100,000 for the first time, and within another century that number would double due to the arrival of American corn. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica
During the 18th century, Asturias was one of the centres of the Spanish Enlightenment. The Age of Enlightenment (in Spanish Ilustración) came to Spain in the eighteenth century with the French Bourbon dynasty, after the decay The renowned thinker Benito de Feijoo settled in the Benedictine Monastery of San Vicente de Oviedo. Benito Jerónimo Feijóo y Montenegro ( Casdemiro, Galicia, 8 October 1676 Oviedo, Asturias, 26 September Benedictine refers to the Spirituality and Consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in This article concerns the buildings occupied by monastics. For the life inside monasteries and its historical roots see Monasticism. San Vicente de Oviedo is a church and monastery in the Spanish town of Oviedo. Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, a polymath and prominent reformer and politician of the late 18th century, was born in the seaside town of Gijón. Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos ( 5 January, 1744 - 27 November, 1811) Spanish neoclassical statesman author philosopher and main A polymath ( Greek polymathēs, πολυμαθής "having learned much" is a person whose knowledge is not restricted to one subject area Gijón ( Asturian: Xixón) is a coastal industrial city
The Industrial Revolution came to Asturias with the discovery and systematic exploitation, after 1830, of coal and iron resources. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the At the same time there was significant migration to the Americas (especially Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba and Mexico); those who succeeded overseas often returned to their native land much wealthier. The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. These entrepreneurs were known collectively as 'Indianos', for having visited and made their fortunes in the West Indies and beyond. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting The heritage of these wealthy families can still be seen in Asturias today: many large 'modernista' villas are dotted across the region, as well as cultural institutions such as free schools and public libraries.
Like all Spain, Asturias played its part in the events that led up to and including the Spanish Civil War. The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict in Spain that started after an attempted Coup d'état committed by parts of the army against the government of In 1934, the marxist workers' movement fought the right-wing government of the Second Spanish Republic in the Revolution of Asturias. Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Second Spanish Republic was the system of government in Spain between April 14 1931, when King Alfonso XIII left the country For a month, a socialist republic was formed in Asturias, with a total marxist administration. Troops under the command of Francisco Franco were brought from the North African colonies to put down the rebellion and a ferocious oppression followed. Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde (born December 4, 1892 in Ferrol, died November 20, 1975 in Madrid As a result, Asturias remained loyal to the democratic republican government during the Spanish Civil War, and was the scene of an extraordinary defence in extreme terrain, the Battle of El Mazuco. The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict in Spain that started after an attempted Coup d'état committed by parts of the army against the government of The Battle of El Mazuco was fought between September 6 and With Franco eventually gaining control of all Spain, Asturias — traditionally linked to the Spanish crown — was known merely as the "Province of Oviedo" from 1936 until Franco's death in 1975. The province's name was restored fully after the return of democracy to Spain, in 1977.
In 1982 Asturias became an Autonomous Community within the decentralized territorial structure established by the Constitution of 1978. An autonomous community is a first-level political division of the Kingdom of Spain, established in accordance with the Spanish Constitution. The Asturian regional government holds comprehensive competencies in important areas such as health, education and protection of the environment. Since 1999 the President of the Government of Asturias has been Vicente Álvarez Areces, of the Spanish Socialist Worker's Party (PSOE). The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, commonly abbreviated by its Spanish initials PSOE ( P artido S ocialista O brero E spañol is
¹ For this reason, since the 14th century the heir to the Spanish throne has automatically taken the title Prince of Asturias, much as the heir to the British throne is the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland. Prince of Wales (Tywysog Cymru is a title traditionally granted to the Heir Apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom (and formerly the Kingdom The Dukedom of Cornwall was the first Dukedom created in the Peerage of England. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain.
Geography and climate
The Cantabrian Mountains (Cordillera Cantábrica) form Asturias's natural border with the province of León to the south. Cantabrian Mountains ( Cordillera Cantábrica in Spanish) are a Mountain range which extends for more than approximately 180 Miles (300 León is a province of northwestern Spain, in the northwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. In the eastern range, the Picos de Europa National Park contains the highest and arguably most spectacular mountains, rising to 2648 metres (8688 feet) at the Torrecerredo peak. The Picos de Europa (literally "Peaks of Europe" is a range of Mountains some 20 km inland from the northern coast of Spain, located in the Autonomous Other notable features of this predominantly-limestone range are the Parque Natural de Redes in the central east, the central Ubiñas south of Oviedo, and the Parque Natural de Somiedo in the west. Oviedo ( Asturian: Uviéu is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. The Cantabrian mountains offer opportunities for activities such as climbing, walking, skiing and caving, and extend some 200 kilometres in total, as far as Galicia province to the west of Asturias, and Cantabria province to the east. Galicia (occasionally Galiza) is an autonomous community in northwest Spain. Cantabria is a Spanish province and Autonomous community with Santander as its capital city
The Asturian coastline is extensive, with hundreds of beaches, coves and natural sea caves. Notable examples include the Playa del Silencio (Beach of Silence) near the fishing village of Cudillero (west of Gijón), as well as the many beaches surrounding the summer resort of Llanes, such as the Barro, Ballota and Torimbia (the latter a predominantly nudist beach). Gijón ( Asturian: Xixón) is a coastal industrial city Naturism or nudism is a cultural and Political movement advocating and defending social Nudity in private and in public. Most of Asturias' beaches are sandy, clean and bordered by steep cliffs, on top of which it is not unusual to see grazing livestock.
The key features of Asturian geography are its rugged coastal cliffs and the mountainous interior. The climate of Asturias, as with the rest of northwest Spain, is more varied than that of southern parts of the country. Summers are generally humid and warm, with considerable sunshine, but also some rain. Winters are fairly mild but with some very cold snaps. The cold is especially felt in the mountains, where snow is present from November till May. Both rain and sunshine are regular weather features of Asturian winters. Annual rainfall is above 900 mm (35. 4 in) throughout the region (e. g. Gijón, 971 mm or 38. 2 in), but it increases as one travels inland, and reaches its peak in the Picos de Europa (e. The Picos de Europa (literally "Peaks of Europe" is a range of Mountains some 20 km inland from the northern coast of Spain, located in the Autonomous g. Amieva, 1800 mm or 76 in). Asturias is regarded to be a part of so called Green Spain. Green Spain (direct translation into English of the Spanish España Verde) is the name given to the Spanish northern maritime façade exposed to the
Languages
The only official language in Asturias is Spanish. The Asturian language (Bable) is also spoken, and is protected by Ley 1/1998, de 23 de marzo, de uso y promoción del bable/asturiano ('Law 1/1998, of March 23, of Use and Promotion of Bable/Asturian'). Asturian (Asturian Asturianu or Bable) is a Romance language of the West Iberian group, Astur-Leonese Subgroup, spoken in the It is used sometimes by the Asturian civil service. See also Bureaucrat The term civil service has two distinct meanings Branch of governmental service in which individuals are hired on the basis In the western part of Asturias, Eonavian is also spoken, and its promotion also falls under the responsibility of Law 1/1998. Eonavian or Eonaviego is a term used to refer a set of dialects or falas whose linguistic dominion extends in the zone of Asturias between the Eo Whether Eonavian is a dialect continuum or a variety of Galician language, however, is a subject of debate, and its use in the Asturian Administration is minor compared to the use of the Asturian language. A dialect continuum is a range of Dialects spoken across a large geographical area differing only slightly between areas that are geographically close and gradually decreasing There is an ongoing process to change all place names in Asturias into traditional Asturian and Eonavian ones. Toponymy refers to the scientific study of place-names ( toponyms) their origins meanings use and Typology.
Food and drink
- See main article: Asturian cuisine
While Asturias is especially known for its seafood, the most famous regional dish is fabada asturiana, a rich stew typically made with large white beans (fabes), shoulder of pork (lacón), black sausage (morcilla), spicy sausage (chorizo), and saffron (azafrán). Asturian cuisine refers to the typical dishes and ingredients found in the cuisine of the Asturias region of Spain. Seafood is any Sea Animal or Seaweed that is served as Food, or is suitable for eating particularly saltwater animals such Fabada Asturiana, often simply known as Fabada, is a rich Spanish Bean Stew, originally from and most commonly found in the autonomous Vicia faba, the broad bean, fava bean, faba bean, horse bean, field bean, tic bean is a species of Pork' is the Culinary name for Meat from the domestic Pig ( Sus scrofa) often specifically the fresh meat but can be used as an all-inclusive Black pudding or (less often blood pudding is a British English term for Sausage made by cooking blood with a filler until it is thick enough to congeal A sausage is a prepared Food, usually made from Ground meat, animal fat salt and Spices (sometimes with other ingredients such as herbs typically packed Chorizo (tʃo̞ˈɾiso̞ in Latin American Spanish or tʃo̞ˈɾiθo̞ in Castilian Spanish) Chouriço (ʃoˈɾisu in Portuguese) or Xoriç Saffron ( Kurdish/Persian زَعْفَرَان is a Spice derived from the dried Stigma of the Flower of the saffron crocus ( Crocus sativus
Apple groves foster the production of the traditional alcoholic drink, a natural cider (sidra). The apple is the pomaceous Fruit of the apple tree Species Malus domestica in the Rose family Rosaceae. For the non-alcoholic beverage commonly known in the US as "cider" see Apple cider. When Asturian cider is served it is poured in a particular way, El Escanciado: since it is natural and bottled without gas, the bottle must be held above the head allowing for a long vertical pour (requiring considerable skill and accuracy) which causes the cider to be aerated when it splashes into the glass below. This gives it a pleasant "zingy" taste. The glass is passed around and everyone drinks from the same glass. After drinking most of the glass, it is customary to splash a little out onto the ground, as a way to clean the glass of any lees for the next pouring.
Asturian cheeses, especially Cabrales, are also famous throughout Spain and beyond; Asturias is often called "the land of cheeses" (el país de los quesos) due to the product's diversity and quality in this region. Cheese is a Food made from Milk, usually the milk of cows, Buffalo, Goats or sheep, by coagulation. Cabrales cheese ( Spanish queso de Cabrales, Asturian quesu Cabrales) is a Cheese made in the
Economy
For centuries the backbone of the Asturian economy was agriculture, and fishing. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish. Milk production and its derivatives was also traditional, but its big development was a byproduct of the economic expansion of the late 1960's. Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the Mammary glands of female Mammals (including Monotremes. Nowadays, products from the Central Lechera Asturiana are being commercialised all over Spain.
The main regional industry in modern times, however, was coal mining and steel production: in the times of Francisco Franco's dictatorship, it was the centre of Spain's steel industry. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde (born December 4, 1892 in Ferrol, died November 20, 1975 in Madrid The then state-owned ENSIDESA steel company is now part of the privatised Aceralia, now part of the ARCELOR Group. Arcelor SA ( was the world's largest Steel producer in terms of turnover and the second largest in terms of steel output with a turnover of €30 Arcelor SA ( was the world's largest Steel producer in terms of turnover and the second largest in terms of steel output with a turnover of €30 The industry created many jobs which resulted in significant migration from other regions in Spain, mainly Extremadura, Andalusia and Castilla y León. Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Andalusia (Andalucía is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest in terms of land area Castile and León (Castilla y León known formally as the Community of Castile and León is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain.
The steel industry is now in decline, as is mining, as a result of competition from Eastern Europe, high costs of production, and decline in global steel demand. Regional economic growth is below the broader Spanish rate, though in recent years growth in service industries has helped reduce Asturias's high rate of unemployment. Large out-of-town retail parks have opened near the region's largest cities (Gijón and Oviedo), whilst the ever-present Spanish construction industry appears to continue to thrive.
Asturias has benefited extensively since 1986 from European Union investment in roads and other essential infrastructure, though there has also been some controversy regarding how these funds are spent, for example, on miners' pensions. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Infrastructure typically refers to the technical structures that support a society such as Roads Water supply, Wastewater, Power grids
The Center for the Development of Information and Communication Technologies (CTIC) is located in Asturias. A non-profit organization, made up of information technologies firms and the Government of the Principality, it is best known for producing The Web Accessibility Test (TAW), a free tool for the analysis of Web sites.
Tourist attractions
Major attractions
Oviedo, the capital city of Asturias: a clean, picturesque city with a diverse architectural heritage. Oviedo ( Asturian: Uviéu is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo, a pre-Romanesque church and a palace respectively, which were built by the first Asturian kings on Mount Naranco, to the north of the city. Pre-Romanesque art and architecture is the period in Western European art from either the emergence of the Merovingian kingdom in about 500 or from the Carolingian
The Picos de Europa National park, and other parts of the Asturian mountain range: The most famous mountain in the park is the Picu Urriellu (2519 m or 8262 ft), also known as El Naranjo de Bulnes, a molar-shaped peak which glows orange in the evening sun, hence its name. The Picos de Europa (literally "Peaks of Europe" is a range of Mountains some 20 km inland from the northern coast of Spain, located in the Autonomous Weather permitting, it can be viewed clearly from Camarmeña village, near Poncebos, south of Arenas de Cabrales.
The shrine to the Virgin Mary of Covadonga and the mountain lakes (Los Lagos), near Cangas de Onís: Legend has it that in the 8th century, the Virgin blessed Asturian Christian forces with a well-timed signal to attack Spain's Moorish conquerors, thereby taking the invaders by surprise. Covadonga - ( Asturian: Cuadonga) from Latin Cova Dominica, "Cavern of the Lady" Arabic: صخرة بلاي Ṣakhraḧ Bilāy The Reconquista and eventual unification of all Spain is therefore said to have started in this very location. The Reconquista (a Spanish and Portuguese word for "Reconquest" Arabic: الاسترداد, "Recapturing" was a period
The Asturian coast: especially the beaches in and around the summer resort of Llanes, and the Playa del Silencio near Cudillero fishing village. Llanes (the Concejo de Llanes, Conceyu de Llanes in Asturian language) an administrative district of the province of
Other places of interest
- Ceceda village: east of Oviedo along the N634 road. Oviedo ( Asturian: Uviéu is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. Of particular interest in this exemplary settlement are the traditional horreo grain silos, raised on stilts so as to keep field mice from getting at the grain.
- The Dobra River: south of Cangas de Onís, famous for its unusual colour and natural beauty. Cangas de Onís ( Asturian: Cangues d'Onís) is a municipality in the eastern part of the province and autonomous community of Asturias in the northwest
- The senda costera (coastal way) between Pendueles and Llanes: This partly-paved nature route takes in some of Asturias' most spectacular coastal scenery, such as the noisy bufones (large water spouts created naturally by the erosion of the sea) and the Playa de Ballota. Llanes (the Concejo de Llanes, Conceyu de Llanes in Asturian language) an administrative district of the province of
- The unusual rock formation on the beach at Buelna village: east of Llanes. Llanes (the Concejo de Llanes, Conceyu de Llanes in Asturian language) an administrative district of the province of Best viewed at low tide.
More Information
Oficial Tourist Information Website
Transportation
Air
Asturias is served by Asturias International Airport (OVD), 40 kilometres from Oviedo, near the northwest coast and the industrial town of Avilés. Asturias Airport, is the main airport of Asturias, a region in northern Spain, in Castrillón.
- International carriers
- A UK-based international carrier, easyJet, began daily flights to Asturias airport in March 2005, it operates to Stansted Airport, which the airline uses as a major hub. EasyJet Airline Company Limited, styled as easyJet, is a low cost airline based at London Luton Airport. London Stansted Airport is a passenger Airport located in the Uttlesford District of the English County of Essex about 38 miles (61 During the winter period, easyJet usually reduces flying frequency to four flights per week.
- A German-based carrier, Air Berlin, began flights to Asturias airport in November 2006, it operates to Mallorca which the airline uses as a major hub. Majorca ( Spanish and Mallorca is the largest island of Spain.
- Several National Carriers also link Asturias to Madrid and Barcelona, Brussels, Paris, Seville and others. Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia Brussels (Bruxelles pronounced; Brussel pronounced) officially the Brussels Capital-Region, is Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Seville ( Spanish: Sevilla, see also different names) is the artistic cultural and financial capital of southern Spain.
- Iberia
- Spanair
- Air Asturias inaugurated flights in November 2006 and was based at Ranon Airport (OVD). Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España SA (Iberia Airlines of Spain ( or Iberia as it is commonly known is the largest Airline of Spain, based Spanair is an Airline based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. It is a subsidiary of Scandinavian Airlines Systems that provides a scheduled Air Asturias was a short-lived Airline based in Oviedo / Asturias, Spain. Asturias Airport, is the main airport of Asturias, a region in northern Spain, in Castrillón. Air Asturias connected the region to Madrid, Paris, Lisbon and Rome. Air Asturias was a short-lived Airline based in Oviedo / Asturias, Spain. It planned to expand its network to other national, European and inter-continental destinations by 2007, but folded down the same year.
Eastern Asturias is also easily accessible from Santander Airport. Santander Airport (Parayas is an International airport near Santander, Spain and the only airport of Cantabria Recent improvements introduced in the road network permit flying into Santander and later driving into Asturias, which can be entered in than one hour's drive.
Cheap flights to Santander Airport operated by the Irish airline Ryanair can be from the following destinations: Frankfurt Hahn, Liverpool, London Stansted and Rome Ciampino. The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain between Asturias (to the west and Santander Airport (Parayas is an International airport near Santander, Spain and the only airport of Cantabria Ryanair (,) is an Irish Airline with headquarters in Dublin and its biggest operational base at London Stansted Airport in the UK
Sea
El Musel (the Port of Gijon) is able to receive cruise ships of any size. Located in Asturias, in the north of Spain and in the middle point of the Cantabrian Sea coast the Port of Gijón is often seen as an ideal gateway to Europe Companies as P&O, Swan Hellenic or Hapag Lloyd choose the Port of Gijón every year for their calls in the Atlantic European Coast. }} Atlantic Europe is a geographical and anthropological term for the western portion of Europe which borders the Atlantic Ocean. The following areas are available for cruise vessels:
-
- Moliner quay: 313 m berthing with 14 m draught.
- 7ª Alignment: 326 m with 12 m draught.
- Espigón II. South alignment. 360 m berth with 9 m draught.
These locations allow a high degree of access control with security guaranteed for both vessels and passengers alike. The city centre is only 4 km away and the Port Authority provides dedicated coach connection allowing passengers to take advantage of the cultural, gastronomic and commercial opportunities that Gijón has to offer. Gastronomy is the study of the relationship between Culture and Food.
Train
Spain's national RENFE rail network also serves Asturias well; trains regularly depart to and from the Spanish interior. Renfe Operadora is the State-owned company which operates freight and passenger Trains on the 1668-mm " Iberian gauge " and 1435-mm " Major stops are the regional capital, Oviedo, and the main coastal city, Gijón. Oviedo ( Asturian: Uviéu is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. Gijón ( Asturian: Xixón) is a coastal industrial city Meanwhile the FEVE rail company links the centre of the region with Eastern and Western Asturias. FEVE ( Ferrocarriles Españoles de Vía Estrecha, meaning "Narrow-Gauge Spanish Railways" is a state-owned Spanish Railway company which operates
- See also: Cercanías Asturias
Bus
There is also a comprehensive bus service run by the ALSA company. Cercanías Asturias is a Commuter rail service between Oviedo and Gijón and towns in the Autonomous Community of Asturias. ALSA (Automóviles Luarca, SA) is a Spanish subsidiary It links Avilés, Gijón, Oviedo and Mieres with Madrid and other major towns, several times a day. Avilés is the name of the third most important city of Asturias, Spain. Gijón ( Asturian: Xixón) is a coastal industrial city Oviedo ( Asturian: Uviéu is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. Mieres is a municipality of Asturias, Spain with approximately 45000 inhabitants Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. These include services to Barcelona, Salamanca, León, Valladolid, La Coruña, Bilbao, Seville, San Sebastián, Paris, Brussels and Nice, to name just a few. Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia Geography The city lies on a mountain by the Tormes River which is crossed by a bridge 150 m long built on 26 arches fifteen of which are of Roman origin, while History León was founded in the 1st century BC by the Roman legion Legio VI ''Victrix''. ||-||} is an industrial city and it is a Municipality in north-central Spain, upon the Pisuerga River and within the Ribera del Duero wine-making region A Coruña ( Spanish: La Coruña; Galician: A Coruña; also Corunna in English, and archaically The Groyne) is Bilbao, (also Bilbo) in the North of Spain, is the largest city in the Basque Country and the capital of the province of Biscay (Basque Seville ( Spanish: Sevilla, see also different names) is the artistic cultural and financial capital of southern Spain. Donostia-San Sebastián ( Basque: Donostia, IPA; Spanish: San Sebastián, known officially as Donostia-San Sebastián Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Brussels (Bruxelles pronounced; Brussel pronounced) officially the Brussels Capital-Region, is Nice (nis Niçard Occitan: Niça norm or Nissa, Italian: Nizza or Nizza Marittima, Greek
Music
Asturian anthem
The Asturian anthem Asturias, patria querida (Asturias, my dear motherland) was a popular song adopted as the region's anthem and formalised by Ley 1/1984, de 27 de Abríl. Asturias patria querida is the anthem of the Spanish autonomous community of Asturias, although it is widely regarded throughout the Spanish
According to a popular myth, this song is sung by drunk people all over Spain; in reality, however, this is extremely uncommon. This notion might have been introduced in the time of the Spanish Civil War by Francisco Franco's side to discredit Asturias, since this song was born in the mining community - a centre of Spanish socialism. The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict in Spain that started after an attempted Coup d'état committed by parts of the army against the government of Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde (born December 4, 1892 in Ferrol, died November 20, 1975 in Madrid Some variants of the anthem were also used by the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War and the 1934 miners' uprising that preceded the war. The Second Spanish Republic was the system of government in Spain between April 14 1931, when King Alfonso XIII left the country Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde (born December 4, 1892 in Ferrol, died November 20, 1975 in Madrid
Other
"Asturias" is also the name of the fifth movement of the Suite Española, Op. Leyenda ( Asturias) is a work of classical music written by the Spanish Composer Isaac Albéniz. 47 by Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz. Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz i Pascual (iˈsak alˈβeniθ ( May 29, 1860 &ndash May 18, 1909) was a Spanish Pianist Nevertheless, the music has little in common with the region's own Folklore. More authentic is Rimsky Korsakov's Spanish Cappriccio, which quotes liberally from Asturian musical heritage.
Famous citizens
- Leopoldo Alas "Clarín", 19th century author of La Regenta, a seminal work in the Spanish literary canon
- Fernando Alonso, Formula 1 racing driver, 2005 and 2006 world champion
- Francisco Álvarez Cascos, minister in Spain's government 1996-2000 and 2000-2004
- Torcuato Fernández-Miranda, key lawmaker during the Spanish transition to democracy
- Letizia, Princess of Asturias, a native of Oviedo and wife of Felipe, Prince of Asturias
- Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, philosopher, politician, Enlightenment thinker
- Severo Ochoa, 1959 Nobel Prize winner for physiology or medicine
- Carmen Polo, wife of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco
- David Villa, Valencia C. Leopoldo Alas y Ureña ( 25 April 1852 - 13 June 1901) also known as Clarín was a Spanish realist novelist Fernando Alonso Díaz (born July 29, 1981 in Oviedo, Spain) is a Spanish Formula One racing driver and a two-time Francisco Álvarez Cascos ( October 1, 1947 -present is a Spanish Civil engineer and Politician. Don Torcuato Fernández-Miranda Hevia 1st Duke of Fernandez-Miranda ( Gijón, Spain November 10, 1915 - London The Spanish transition to democracy was the era when Spain moved from the Dictatorship of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state. Letizia Princess of Asturias (Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano September 15 1972, Oviedo Spain) is the wife of Felipe, the Prince of Asturias Oviedo ( Asturian: Uviéu is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos ( 5 January, 1744 - 27 November, 1811) Spanish neoclassical statesman author philosopher and main The Age of Enlightenment or The Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase in Western philosophy and cultural life centered upon the eighteenth century Severo Ochoa de Albornoz ( September 24, 1905 &ndash November 1, 1993) was a Spanish - American biochemist The Nobel Prize (Nobelpriset (Nobelprisen is a Swedish prize established in the 1895 will of Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel; it was first awarded in Peace, Literature María del Carmen Polo y Martínez-Valdès 1st Señora of Meirás ( June 11, 1900, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain - February 6 Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde (born December 4, 1892 in Ferrol, died November 20, 1975 in Madrid David Villa Sánchez (born December 4, 1981 in Langreo, Asturias, Spain) nicknamed El Guaje ( The Kid F. and Spain international football star
- Hevia, Asturian gaita piper
See also
- Asturian people
- Kingdom of Asturias
- Felipe, Prince of Asturias
- Asturian art
- Prince of Asturias Awards
- Asturian cinema
- Asturias (Melody)
References
- Bowen-Jones, H. Hevia, or José Ángel Hevia Velasco, is a Spanish piper &ndash specifically an Asturian gaita piper born in 1967 in Villaviciosa Asturias The Asturians are one of the regional nationalities of Spain, issuing from the historical country of the Principality of Asturias, and also from the provinces The Kingdom of Asturias was the first Christian political entity to be established in the Iberian peninsula after the collapse of the Visigothic Pre-Romanesque architecture in Asturias is framed between the years 711 and 910 the period of the rise extension and disappearance of the Kingdom of Asturias The Prince of Asturias Awards ( Spanish: Premios Príncipe de Asturias, Asturian: Premios Príncipe d'Asturies) is a series of prestigious annual The Asturian Cinema (or Asturian National Cinema) in Asturias, Spain, began in 1905 with the production of the first Asturian fiction film known and W. B. Fisher. Spain: An Introductory Geography. New York: Praeger, 1966.
- Dresner, Denise, ed. Guide to the World. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1998. S. v. "Asturias"
- Encyclopedia Americana. Danbury: Grolier, 2002. S. v. "Asturias"
- Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 1997. S. v. "Asturias"
External links
- Government of the Principality of Asturias - Official Website
- InfoAsturias - Official Tourist Information Website
- Visit Asturias A guide in English
- Meteorology of the Principality of Asturias
- University of Oviedo
- El Musel, the Port of Gijón
- Investment Agency of the Principality of Asturias - Website
- A guide to the natural history of Asturias
- Asturias Nature Photography
- Photos of Asturias
- Asturias images: Oviedo
- Asturias images: Valdés
- Asturias images: Cudillero
- Asturias images: Luarca
- Asturias: Beaches, Monuments and Routes
- AsturianUS: Website dedicated to the Asturian-American migration
- All about Asturias
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