The city of Oviedo is the capital of the autonomous region of Asturias. It is located in the center of the region at the foot of Mount Naranjo. It is believed that the city was founded in the 8th century by the monks Maximo and Fromestanus, who decided to build a church here. In 808, King Alphonse II chose Oviedo as the capital of the kingdom of Asturias, but already at the beginning of the 10th century the capital was moved to León.
According to Paradisdachat, the main attractions of the Old Town are concentrated at the Plaza de Alfonso, where the Gothic Cathedral rises. It was built between the 14th and 16th centuries on the site of a pre-Romanesque church from the 9th century. The Cathedral attracts many pilgrims, because its treasury (Camara Santa) contains ancient relics that have become a symbol of Asturias and its struggle against the Arab invaders – the Cross of Angels and the Cross of Victory. The treasury is located in the chapel of the 9th century, this is the only building that has survived from the early church, on the site of which the cathedral was erected. Also in the Cathedral is a museum of religious art.
In the vicinity of the cathedral, it is worth visiting the Archaeological Museum, located in the Benedictine monastery of St. Vincent of the 8th century, and the Museum of Fine Arts, which is located in the Velarde Palace of the 17th century. Other sights of the city include Square of the Constitution of the 17th century with the building of the City Hall, Plaza Fountain, where the vast market complex of El Fontan (17-18th century) is located, the building of the University of Oviedo(16-17th century), whose facade is made in the plateresque style, the medieval fountain of La Foncalada (9th-10th centuries), the main city park of San Francisco, covering an area of 90 thousand square meters. m, shopping street Cale de Uriaand numerous bars serving excellent Asturian cider.
Around Oviedo there are unique examples of pre-Romanesque architecture of the 9th century: the churches of Santa Maria del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo, San Julian de los Prados, Santa Maria de Bendones and San Pedro de Nora. The first two churches are located at the foot of Mount Naranjo on the northern outskirts of the city. They are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The original buildings of Santa Maria del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo were part of the vast palace complex of King Ramiro I, who ruled Asturias in the middle of the 9th century. Santa Maria del Naranco was a palace and became a church in the 12th century. The building has a square shape and consists of two floors, interconnected by a series of external stairs. The second floor is framed by arcades and windows. Inside the church on the altar there is a Latin inscription with the date 886. The Church of San Miguel de Lillo, under King Ramiro I, served as a palace chapel and was built in honor of St. Michael the Archangel. Only a third of the original building has survived to this day. The Church of San Julian de los Prados, also known as Santullano, is located in the town of Pumarin on the northeastern outskirts of Oviedo. It is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The church was erected by order of King Alfonso II and until the 11th century was the largest Christian building in Spain. The interiors of the church are decorated with wall frescoes, atypical for religious buildings, with all kinds of geometric symbols in different colors. The Church of Santa Maria de Bendones is located east of Oviedo in the town of Bendones. It is also famous for its wall frescoes. The Church of San Pedro de Nora is located 13 km west of Oviedo. It is very similar to the church of San Julian de los Prados. You can also go from Oviedo to the city of Nava. (Nava) is the largest cider center in the country. The city is located 33 km east of Oviedo. It is worth visiting the Cider Museum.
Be sure to explore the Biscay coast of Asturias with its sandy beaches, port cities and quiet fishing villages, or the picturesque Cantabrian Mountains, stretching along the southern border of Asturias.
Puente Viesgo, Cantabria (Spain)
The city of Puente Viesgo is located 25 km south of Santander in the heart of the autonomous region of Cantabria. It is located at the foot of Mount Castillo, which houses the caves of El Castillo, Las Monedas, La Pasiega and Las Chimeneas. The walls of the caves are decorated with prehistoric images of animals, and their bottom and vault are dotted with stalactites and stalagmites. The rock paintings date from the Early Paleolithic to the Bronze Age. Every half an hour, excursions start in the underground galleries. The city of Puente Viesgo is also known as a spa resort that began to develop in the 18th century. Thermal springs were discovered in the valley of the river Pas, on which the city stands, even by the Romans. Today, local bicarbonate-chloride sodium-calcium waters with a temperature of about +35 degrees are used in the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous systems, and are also used for general recovery of the body. Huge range of treatments offered by 4-star Hotel Grand Hotel Balneario. Here, in addition to all kinds of baths, showers, saunas, inhalations, massages and mud treatments, electrotherapy, mechanotherapy and pressure therapy are offered. The hotel is surrounded by a vast park.
In the vicinity of Puente Viesgo, it is worth visiting salmon and trout farms, the village of Socobio (Socobio) with the Romanesque church of Santa Cruz de Castañeda of the 12th century, which is located on the pilgrimage route of St. James, the spa resort of Las Caldas de Besaya (Las Caldas de Besaya), whose bicarbonate-chloride sodium radioactive waters have been used since the time of the Celts, or go on a tour of the picturesque valley of the Pas River. In the valley of the river Paz is another spa resort Alceda (Alceda), equipped on the basis of local sulfur sources, which are widely used in the treatment of skin diseases. To the east of Puente Viesgo, in the valley of the Pisueña river, lies the Peña
Cabarga mountain range, protected by the natural park of the same name (Pena Cabarga nature park). Over the course of millennia, as a result of erosion, bizarre landforms were formed here: various reddish karst formations mixed with green vegetation. The main attraction of the park is the Cabarceno Wildlife Park. (Cabarceno wildlife park) is the largest park of exotic animals in Europe. Here, on an area of more than 750 hectares, about 100 species of animals from 5 continents (tigers, lions, jaguars, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, antelopes, ostriches, etc.) have been collected. The park has paved roads that can be driven by car, as well as hiking and cycling trails. It hosts shows with the participation of marine animals and birds of prey. Also on the territory of the park, for the convenience of vacationers, picnic areas are equipped, shops, restaurants and cafes are open. Nearby is the town of Lierganes, where beautiful examples of architecture of the 17th and 18th centuries have been preserved and there is a spa resort.
