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COSTA VERDE

Playa de San Pedro in Cudillero

by Admin

Playa de San Pedro, Asturias, Cudillero

Playa de San Pedro is situated in the council of Cudillero and is one of the more popular beaches with the locals in the area. During low tide, a vast swath of golden sand is exposed making it a great place to sunbathe and swim. At high tide however, Playa de San Pedro is little beach left but the large grassy area at the top of the beach allows visitors to continue their day at the beach uninterrupted. This grassy area is also a great place to picnic and makes a nice rest bite from the sticky sand.

To the right of the beach is a small river mouth which is great for young kids to take a paddle.

The river is also a good place to observe local species of sea birds as they trawl the shallow waters for food.

Playa de San Pedro has a good quality campsite at the entrance to the beach where you will also find a cafe/bar that sells sandwiches and ice creams.

The nearest town is San Pedro where you will find bars and restaurants.

Services on offer at the beach are: Ample parking, Showers and toilets, Lifeguards during peak seasons (112) and Easy access for the disabled or elderly.

GPS
Long 6°13’18.85″W
Lat 43°34’42.55″N

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com

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BEACHES DISCOVER DRONE VIEW

Playa de la Huelga in Llanes

by Admin

Playa La Huelga, Llanes, Asturias

Playa La Huelga is a beautiful tranquil beach situated in the area Llanes towards the east of the region.

A sandy formation, which includes marshes and is dotted with rocks, occupies the last few metres of the mouth of the River Cecilio. This is La Huelga Beach, formed by pebbles, rock and sand, which has a moderate swell. It is located very near Hontoria and Villahormes.

This beach is ideal for young families due to its protected strand and bathing area. Playa La Huelga is very accessible for the elderly and disabled but doesn’t offer much in the way of amenities but that said, there is a “chiringuito” or beach bar that opens during the summer months.

The strand has a small river running through the centre of it and the beach itself is surrounded by Pine trees and “Horreos” (Traditional Asturian food stores).

This beach is accessible by car up to the small car park. Different variants of sport fishing are commonly practised in the surroundings.

The nearest town is Hontoria

Nice beach even in the winter!

GPS
43°26’56.68″N
4°53’58.45″W

Video supplied by Objetivo Drone

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com

AsturPlaya ghaters all asturian beaches in one APP and offers you all the information to love them even more. Photo galleries, maps, descriptions & much more in one APP only.

Download AsturPlaya

COMMUNITIES AND COUNCILS PHOTOS

The council of Amieva and Sames

by Admin

Amieva

In the area of the East of Asturias is very popular for tourism because of its privileged location between the magnificent Picos de Europa and beautiful sandy beaches. It is also well connected by the airports of Asturias (Ranon) and Cantabria (Santander) as this area borders between Asturias and Cantabria.

The River Sella is one of the most important Salmon Rivers of Spain and fishermen enjoy not only the quality fishing but the amazing scenery as well.

In Amieva you can enjoy activities such as trekking, paddling, canoeing, canyoning, mountain biking, spelunking, climbing, horse riding among others.

Also it is a very important area for its representation of Paleolitic Art and the examples of “Indiano Architecture” which shows the influence of the Emigration of Asturians towards Latin America and North America and it is displayed and explained in the “Museum of the Emigration” in Colombres.

The council of Amieva is pure of nature and beauty with most of the Council located in the Natural Park of the Picos de Europa. In Amieva you can practice hunting and fishing. Also you can do adventure sports and activities, especially climbing and trekking. One of the most beautiful routes in Amieva is the “Route of the Beyu Pen” where you’ll discover characters of Asturian mythology. The route finishes in the enchanting small village of Pen where you can find a medieval tower and some beautifully crafted Asturian food stores or “Horreos” as they are known locally.

The gastronomy in Amieva is mix traditional and modern Asturian food, delicious Asturian reared beef, fish and seafood and it has a wide variety of local cheeses and desserts. Amieva is also part of the Route of the Cider so you can enjoy some crisp traditional cider as its best. You’ll also find cheeses such as the very popular Cabrales Cheese, Gamoneu or Beyos.

More info: Amieva Tourist Office

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com

Images supplied by Tomás Fano, Turismo Asturias: Camilo Alonso and Martínez.

COMMUNITIES AND COUNCILS PHOTOS

The council of Morcín and Santa Eulalia

by Admin

The council of Morcin is part of the Central Mountains of Asturias. In this area you have two types of landscapes, one of impressive natural beauty and the other more industrial in its makeup reminding you of its mining heritage and long industrial history.

The location offers a wealth of Natural and Protected Spaces, leafy Beech and Oak forests, green mountain pastures, narrow valleys and large meandering rivers.This natural beauty is juxtaposed with examples of past and present mining activites and Slack-heaps, mine entrances, Headframes, worker’s housing, etc dot the landscape. This is a real cornucopia for those who have an interest in Industrial architecture and landscapes. Mining has moulded Asturias and plays a significant part in her story so it is worth while learning about this history as it will help to understand the local community a bit more.

Morcin is home to a wealth of stone monuments, megalithic structures, necropolis and old settlements. The Route of the Silver cross the territory of Morcin. .

The Route of the Silver is Roman of origin and crosses the peninsula from north to south starting in Gijon, Asturias, and finishing in Seville, Andalucía. This was built to facilitate commerce and legion movement. After that, the route was mainly used by shepherds who took their livestock to the greener pastures of Asturias during the summer

The Council of Morcin is located in the protected area of the Mountain Rage of Aramo and is a perfect union between the history and nature of Mount Monsacro and the rivers of Morcin and Barrea. One of the principal attractions for tourists is the Mostayal Peak and its ascent through Peñerudes.

The main town in Morcin is called La Foz and has been awarded with “Exemplary Town of Asturias Award”. This is an award given by the “Princess of Asturias Foundation” and delivered in person by the King and Queen of Spain. The award shall be conferred upon a town, village, population centre, scenic area or group of people in the Principality of Asturias that have stood out in a notable way in “defending and conserving its natural or environmental setting, its historical, cultural or artistic heritage, or in the carrying out of outstanding communal works or other such displays of solidarity”.

Also in Morcin you can find more examples of cultural interest like The Chapels of Monsacro, the Medieval Tower of Peñerudes and the parish church of Santa Eulalia.

Morcin offfers many Walking Routes throughout protected landscapes such as The Sierra Aramo Route, The Route to the view point of Pando and Pico Llosoriu, the Route to the Chapels of Monsacro and the Mining Route of La Esperanza.

The other main attraction in Morcin is the local gastronomy offering an Asturian traditional fare or Stews, Asturian reared beef, fish from the rivers, cheeses and Asturian desserts.

One very popular dish is the turnip stew, the Afuega el Pitu cheese and the classical Asturian almond pastries. There is also the Museum of Cheeses of Asturias.

More info: Morcin Tourist Office

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com

Images supplied by Consorcio Montana Central and Turismo Asturias: Marcelo Suárez, Ana Muller, Armando Montes, José Suárez and Arnaud Spani.

COMMUNITIES AND COUNCILS PHOTOS

The council of Riosa and La Vega

by Admin

The council of Riosa is part of the Central Mountains. In Riosa you have two types of landscapes, one of impressive natural beauty and the other more industrial in its makeup reminding you of its mining heritage and long industrial history.

The Central Mountain range offer a wealth of Natural and Protected Spaces, leafy Beech and Oak forests, green mountain pastures, narrow valleys and large meandering rivers.

This natural beauty is juxtaposed with examples of past and present mining activites and Slack-heaps, mine entrances, Headframes, worker’s housing, etc dot the landscape. This is a real cornucopia for those who have an interest in industrial architecture and landscapes. Mining has moulded Asturias and plays a significant part in her story so it is worth while learning about this history as it will help to understand the local community a bit more.

Riosa is home to a wealth of stone monuments, megalithic structures, necropolis and old settlements.

The Route of the Silver cross the territory of Riosa. The Route of the Silver is Roman in origin and crosses the peninsula from north to south starting in Gijón, Asturias, and finishing in Seville, Andalucía. This was built to facilitate commerce and legion movement. After that, the route was mainly used by shepherds who took their livestock to the greener pastures of Asturias during the summer.

The area of Riosa is part of the protected mountain landscapes of the Coal-Mining Area at the Aramo Mountain Range where you can find the Mostayal Peak. In Viapara, Riosa you will find one of the main entrances to the peak.

Riosa has a very rich old legacy where ancient settlers exploited the underground riches in the mine of Rioseco which constitute an exceptionally valuable archaeological site due to their early date and are among the oldest in Western Europe. Other exceptional examples of this are the Castro or Settlement of Pico Castiello in El Collado and the necropolis of Corujedo in Corujedo. There are 30 other archaeological sites included in the Archaeological Chart of the County of Riosa designed by the Archaeologist Gema Adán in 1995.

Riosa is also very well known for amongst Cycling circles and especially for “Ascent to the Angliru”. For those passionate about cycling the Angliru Climb is an exciting challenge. The extreme gradient of the climb which is over 23% has made it a stage of the classic Tour of Spain and assent has gained international fame due to its difficulty.

If you don’t fancy donning the spandex shorts and pushing yourself to the limit then you can also access it by car and enjoy the amazing natural beauty at the top of this Peak. You can get there via the road of Grandiella which passes the recreational area of Viapará. Here one can enjoy a great picnic area with exceptional views of the Aramo mountain range, the winding road leading to the Angliru and the Monsacro. After one hour’s walk from the summit of Angliru you will reach the Gamonal Peak (1,712metres). This is a splendid vantage point with views of the Asturian coastline, the Picos de Europa and the Cantabrian Mountain range.

Another very beautiful route in the area is the Water Route. Apart from walking, cycling and climbing you can also practice fishing or spelunking,

The other main attraction in Riosa is the local gastronomy offering an Asturian traditional fare or Stews, Asturian reared beef, fish from the rivers, cheeses and Asturian desserts.

More info: Office Tourism Riosa

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com

Images supplied by Ayto de Riosa, Consorcio Montana Central and Turismo Asturias: Arnaud Spani and Camilo Alonso.

COMMUNITIES AND COUNCILS PHOTOS

The council of Langreo and La Felguera

by Admin

This area is a part of the Mancomunidad of the Nalon Valley formed by the councils of Langreo, San Martin del Rey Aurelio, Laviana, Sobrescobio and Caso

The council of Langreo it is located in the south east of Asturias and connected by the Nalon River.

In this area you have two main protected landscapes; the first one is the wonderful natural landscapes of the Redes Natural Park which is a Biosphere Reserve in Sobrescobio and Caso. The second one is the Protected Landscapes of the Mining Basins in Langreo, San Martin del Rey Aurelio and Laviana.

The area of Langreo is very valuable for its industrial legacy. In the middle of XVIII and XIX century the Nalon Valley was immersed in an authentic industrial Revolution that transformed the face of the valley and its way of life. Coal mining, iron and steel production together with the development of the railways, were the basic pillars for this industrialisation process.

In Langreo you can visit a lot of this industrial heritage such as The Old Duro Felguera Works or the Urquijo District in La Felguera, San Luis Colliery in La Nueva, Fondon Colliery in Sama, Maria Luisa Colliery in Ciañu or the Iron Bridge of La Maquinilla in Sama. Also they offer different Routes around the Industrial Patrimony such as The Iron and Steel Route around La Felguera, The Route through the Sama District or the Route through the Samuño Valley.

Here you can visit the Asturias Iron and Steel Museum (MUSI) housed in the impressive cooling tower from the Old Duro Felguera Iron and Steel Works. It is also very important the Mining and Industrial Museum (MUMI) which offers a journey through the technical history of European mining, the age of steam and Asturian industrialization.

Regarding to artistic patrimony in the council of Langreo you can find the Tower of Quintana, the House of the Solis, the Church of San Esteban or the Virgin of Carbayu Home Asylum and Chapel all in Ciañu; or the chapel of Our Lady of the Carbayu in El Carbayu.

The main village of the Council of Langreo is called with the same name and there you can visit the Eduardo Urculo Municipal Art Gallery, the Armando Palacio Valdes visitors centre and the Redes Natural Park Reception and Visitors Centre or the House of the Water in the Redes Natural Park.

In the council of Langreo you can also find a large representation of ethnographic patrimony through traditional housing, stables and barns, horreos and paneras, grinding mills, public springs, washing places and animal troughs.

The council of Langreo enjoys the mountains of the Protected Area of the Cuenca Minera made up of the headwaters of the rivers Samuño, Santa Barbara and the Villoria, tributaries rivers of the River Nalon. There are many Walking Routes in the council such as the Circular Route of Ciañu, the Peña Villa Ascent, the Braña Walk, The Llantamartin Route, or the Mills Route among others.

In this area you can practice a wide range of activities according to the season, fishing and hunting are two of the most deeply rooted in the Valley. In Autumn you can listen the sounds of braying deer. Also the reservoirs of Tanes and Rioseco are a unique situation for bird watching, especially at Rioseco where there are two purpose-built observation posts.

This is also a fantastic area for the practice of different sports such as walking, trekking, mountaineering, mountan biking, rock and ice climbing, horse riding, cycling and Nordic Skiing.

The other main attraction of the area is the Gastronomy enjoying Asturias traditional food based in Stews, Asturias beef, fish from the rivers, local Asturias sweets. But the star of the region is the high Nalon trout, the Casin Cheese, one of the oldest in Spain, and the Nalón whispers which are exquisite butter pastries.

More info: Langreo Tourist Office

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com

Images supplied by Council of Langreo, Turismo Asturias: James Seoane Argüelles and Manuel Ángel Suárez Calvo.

COMMUNITIES AND COUNCILS PHOTOS

The council of Lena and Pola de Lena

by Admin

Pola de Lena is called the”Gate of Asturias” because it is what you will first see as you are head north from the plains of Leon in Spain. This is quite an impressive journey, positioned at the border between Leon and Asturias in which you have to pass a tunnel called “El Negron” (The Black One) which is 4.1km in length. As you exit the tunnel you are welcomed by the magnificent and vibrant beauty of the Mountains of Guerna Valley which makes quite an impressive picture.

In this area you have two types of landscapes, one of impressive natural beauty and the other more industrial in its makeup reminding you of its mining heritage and long industrial history.

The Central Mountains offer a wealth of Natural and Protected Spaces, leafy Beech and Oak forests, green mountain pastures, narrow valleys and large meandering rivers.

This natural beauty is juxtaposed with examples of past and present mining activity as Slack-heaps, mine entrances, Headframes, worker’s housing, etc dot the landscape. This is a real cornucopia for those who have an interest in Industrial architecture and landscapes. Mining has moulded Asturias and plays a significant part in her story so it is worth while learning about this history as it will help to understand the local community a bit more.

The area is home to a wealth of stone monuments, megalithic structures, necropolis and old settlements. Pola de Lena also acts as a crossroads of two significant trading routes and for that reason the area is well marked by a mixture of many cultures. The two main routes that cross the territory are the Route of the Silver and the Route of Santiago.

The Route of the Silver is Roman in origin and crosses the peninsula from north to south starting in Gijon, Asturias, and finishing in Seville, Andalucía. This was built to facilitate commerce and legion movement. After that, the route was mainly used by shepherds who took their livestock to the greener pastures of Asturias during the summer.

The Route of Santiago is the other significant route of the area. This section is known as the “El Salvador Route” which enters Asturias through the Pajares Mountain pass and down into Oviedo ending up at the San Salvador Cathedral where the route connects with “Primitive Route”.

Pola de Lena is truly the gate to the Principado de Asturias. The council lies at the foot of the impressive Massifs of The Principado de Asturias and it is a real paradise for nature lovers.

The Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park has one of the most important peaks in Asturias called Peña Ubiña and with a height of 2,417 metres it is an absolute playground for rock and ice climbers. Also, you can find the Protected Landscapes of the Aramo Massiff. Here you will take in the beauty of these mountains at the view points of “Flor de Acebo” and the impressive “Alto L’Palo”.

Within the area of Pola de Lena you will find the Valgrande Forest, a paradise for lovers of trekking as it is the largest beech forest in Asturias and home of Asturian Bears, Wolfs and Capercaillies (A type of Grouse).

There are many important cultural places to visit in Pola de Lena including the very popular pre-Romanic Church of Santa Cristina de Lena declared a site of UNESCO Heritage, The Xomezana as an example of ethnography and tradition and the historic area of Las Puentes declared of cultural interest and made up of the Church of San Martin, the old Rectory and the Medieval bridge.

Pola de Lena is the start of many Routes and it is also part of the La Carisa Way which is one of the pre-historic routes that connected Asturias with the rest of the peninsula. It was the first road built and widely used by the Romans to accommodate safe passage for their carriages. You can still see some of the original road preserved as you travel along its route. The Roman camp of La Carisa is located on the Curriel peak and at 1,728metres, it was the highest Roman military camp in Europe and could house up to approx 10,000 men.

The area of Pola De Lena is a fantastic place to do any kind of sports and is well set up for trekking, mountaineering, climbing, skiing, fishing, mountain biking, quad biking, horse riding, spelunking, paragliding, etc.

Two of the most important sporting activities in the area are climbing and skiing and is home to the Winter Ski Resort of Valgrande Pajares, the largest ski station in Asturias.

The other main attraction Pola de Lena is the Gastronomy offering a Asturias traditional fare based on Stews, Asturian reared beef, fish from the rivers, cheeses and Asturian desserts but the toast of the region is the succulent splayed Lamb slow roasted over an outdoor fire pit. This is a very nice Asturian tradition known locally as “Corderu a la Estaca” and takes place throughout the summer months. A lot of towns host these parties but the one held in Lena, called the Party of “Prau Llaguezu” which is celebrated the first Sunday of July, is the most popular and best organized one in Asturias. This party is declared of International Cultural Interest.

More info: Pola de Lena Tourist Office

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com

Images supplied by Tomás Fano, Ayto de Pola de Lena, Montana Central and Turismo Asturias: Arnaud Spani.

COMMUNITIES AND COUNCILS PHOTOS

The council of Aller and Cabañaquinta

by Admin

Aller is also known as the gate of Asturias because it is what you will first see as you are head north from the plains of Leon in Spain. This is quite an impressive journey, positioned at the border between Leon and Asturias you are welcomed by the magnificent and vibrant beauty of the Mountains which makes quite an impressive picture.

The Central Mountain range offer a wealth of Natural and Protected Spaces, leafy Beech and Oak forests, green mountain pastures, narrow valleys and large meandering rivers.

This natural beauty is juxtaposed with examples of past and present mining activity as Slack-heaps, mine entrances, Headframes, worker’s housing, etc dot the landscape. This is a real cornucopia for those who have an interest in Industrial architecture and landscapes. Mining has moulded Asturias and plays a significant part in her story so it is worth while learning about this history as it will help to understand the local community a bit more.

Aller is home to a wealth of stone monuments, megalithic structures, necropolis and old settlements. The Route of the Silver cross the territory of Aller. The Route of the Silver is Roman in origin and crosses the peninsula from north to south starting in Gijón, Asturias, and finishing in Seville, Andalucía. This was built to facilitate commerce and legion movement. After that, the route was mainly used by shepherds who took their livestock to the greener pastures of Asturias during the summer

The Council of Aller borders with the community of Castilla Leon. Aller is a natural paradise enjoying the impressive mountains of the Principado de Asturias such as the San Isidro pass, Vegarada, Piedrafita and the Via Carisa. The large rivers of this area such as S. Isidro, Negro and Aller are teeming with trout and other fish. The dense forests are home to the wildlife like Deer, Wolves, Foxes, Wild Boar, Otter, Sables, Capercaillies (which is a type of Grouse), and many species of birds.

The main town in Aller is called Moreda. The most important cultural and historic aspects of Aller are the megalithic necropolis of El Padrún in Boo from the 4^th century BC, the monolith of “El Moyón de la Corrala” in Pola de El Pino, The Church of San Vicente de Serapio, The Church of San Juan El Real de Llamas and St Felix de El Pino and the Church of St Juan de Rumiera de Satibanez de la Fuente, all considered Artistic and Historic Monuments.

You will find many fine examples of Industrial Mining Heritage throughout the area. Some of the best examples are the “Pit of San Jorge”, “The Pit of San Fernando” and the Hearframes of San Jorge, Santiago and San Antonio.

Aller is the start of many Routes and it is also part of the La Carisa Way which is one of the pre-historic routes that connected Asturias with the rest of the peninsula. It was the first road built and widely used by the Romans to accommodate safe passage for their carriages. You can still see some of the original road preserved as you travel along its route. The Roman camp of La Carisa is located on the Curriel peak and at 1,728metres, it was the highest Roman military camp in Europe and could house up to approx 10,000 men.

The area of Aller is a fantastic place to do any kind of sports and is well set up for trekking, mountaineering, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, fishing, Mountain biking, quad biking, horse riding, spelunking, paragliding, etc.

Two of the most important sporting activities in the area are climbing in Pelugano and Cuevas; and skiing as Aller is home to the Winter Ski Resort of Fuentes de Invierno, the newest and most modern ski station in Asturias.

Aller boasts some stunning natural monuments such as “Foces de El Pino” or the yew tree of Santibañez de la Fuente and beautiful pasturelands like Valencia, La Tabierna, El Gumial, El Rason, Palmial or La Escosura. During months the autumn, the mountains sides echo with the sound of Stags rutting for mates which is an eerie and magnificent experience to behold.

The other main attraction of the area is the local gastronomy offering a traditional Asturian fare based on Stews, Asturias reared beef, fish from the rivers, cheeses and Asturias desserts but the toast of the region is the handmade Rye Bread and the Sweet Bread Pudding called Panchon.

More info: Aller Tourist Office

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com

Images supplied by Ayto de Aller, Consorcio Montana Central, RECREA and Turismo Asturias: Arnaud Spani, Camilo Alonso and C. Salvo.

COMMUNITIES AND COUNCILS PHOTOS

The council of Valdés and Luarca

by Admin

The Council of Luarca (Valdes) is a part of the Region of Vaqueiros which passes from coastal to inland towns of Asturias and is linked by the tradition of the seasonal migration of the livestock trade. The “vaqueiros” or cattle drivers began to inhabit this part of Asturias in the medieval times and the most distinctive aspect of this that still exists today are the Brañas or highland pastures where they used to breed their cattle. In this council you can find examples of the Pastures in Aristébano, Leiriella or Busindre.

The coastal region of Luarca (Valdes) is an area of exceptional beauty. The valley of Paredes is splendid and you will find popular country towns with classical buildings, a roman bridge and also examples of megalithic dolmens such as Restriello, the Menhir of Ovienes, Brieves in the valley of the river Esva and Llorin which is home to the tower of the Abella. There are also beautiful Mills and classical Asturian food stores called “Horreos” and “Paneras” throughout plus fine examples of a medieval legacy like the Villademoros Tower.

Water is the force behind many magnificent types of scenery in the area especially the fluvial landscape around the river Esva and its gorge. Most of the coastline has been declared a protected area but offers stunning beaches and cliffs especially that of Cape Busto.

Needless to say, this area is a big favourite amongst tourist. The main village of Luarca is known locally as the White Village because its gracefulness and tidiness. Luarca was a very important whaling port which brought a lot of wealth to the area; which can be seen in the buildings and large stately homes such as the Ferrera Marquees Palace and the Gamoneda Palace. You will find plenty of signs of their fishing pedigree in The Table of the Seafarer’s and Shipping Trader’s Guild in El Cambaral which, together with La Pescaderia, make up a classical and picturesque fishing village.

Other very beautiful parts of Luarca are the lighthouse, the Atalaya Chapel and the cemetery which is one of the most beautiful of its kind in the North of Spain with impressive views over the sea. It is at this cemetery where the body of Nobel Prize winner for Medicine, Severo Ochoa was laid to rest.

Examples of Indiano architecture can be found throughout the town of Villar with different palaces from the 19^th and 20^th century. Asturias underwent large scale emigration at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century to America, especially Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela and the US. After the emigrants settled into their new homes and became wealthy they didn’t forget their roots and decided to build these magnificent houses to show off their new status as rich men. This style of very distinctive and characteristic architecture was almost always accompanied by large ornate gardens of palm trees as a part of their identity. Also, a lot of the “Nouveau Riche” acted as sponsors and helped finance some basic needs in the towns like education, water or drainage.

One very interesting place to visit at the port of Luarca is the Centre of Giant Squid which is one of the largest and most important collections of cephalopods of the world.

The area of Luarca (Valdes) is also home to some of the best beaches in Asturias like Luarca, Cueva, Cadavedo, Otur or Barayo.

The Council of Luarca (Valdes) is a part of the Route of Santiago. This section is known as the “ Northern Route” which goes along the Coast of Asturias.

The local food in Luarca (Valdes) is based on a traditional Asturian fare, with stews, Asturian reared beef, Chicken dishes, sweet treats and Asturian cheeses but the star of the area is the fresh fish and the sellfish.

Here will also have a chance to see a traditional Vaqueiro wedding in all its ritualistic and folkloric glory as Vaqueiro is one of the most unusual parties in Asturias. Also are very popular the parties of San Timoteo in Luarca or the Party of La Regalina in Cadavedo.

More info: Valdes-Luarca Tourist Office

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com

Images supplied by Tomás Fano, Ayto de Luarca, Comarca Vaqueira and Turismo Asturias: Arnaud Spani, Camilo Alonso

COMMUNITIES AND COUNCILS PHOTOS

The council and town of Navia

by Admin

The council and surrounds of Navia belong to an area called “The Historical Park of the Navia River”. This refers to an area of different councils with a common historical past stemming from the ancient inhabitants of Asturias. The west of Asturias is full of legends, mystery, magic and myth. This is largely because their location between the sea and the mountains of Galicia and Leon and their welcoming character as a land of travellers, farmers, fisherman, shepherds, sailors and craftsmen.

The whole area is like a living museum with exhibits of mountains, beaches, valleys, rivers, towns and forests where you can find history in every step through the remnants of the Celtic, Roman and Christian cultures.

If we had to define this area in few words then it would be inspirational, relaxing, spiritual and mystical.

Other common denominators to all these areas are the mix of Galician and Asturias architecture, with stone structures and slate roofs. The traditional Asturian stores called “horreos” or “paneras” live side by side with Galician Style Barns. You will find these constructions right next to the houses and were designed protect cured meats and the vegetables from animals and insects.

During the middle Ages the nobility and clergy governed the land and left testimonies of their wealth in the form of Palaces, Large Stately Houses, chapels and sanctuaries. You will find a lot of examples of this throughout the enchanting small coastal and inland country villages.

The town of Navia is situated at the Navia estuary. It is a busy and lively service town with a nice port that offers a resting point for the «Route of Santiago» Pilgrims. The town has some excellent examples of medieval architecture such as the old town wall and an old medieval path which can still be seen. Look out for the large 17^thcentury Estates like the “Coaña” and the “Marquees of Santa Cruz” and slightly more modern “Indiano” colonial architecture such as The Casino and the Arias Palace. Some of the best examples of Palaces in the area are Lienes in Armental, Anleo or Camposorio.

Close by to Navia you will find the enchanting fishing village of Puerto de Vega which operated as a whaling town. It is a very easy going town with good restaurants and a nice port. Some of the more culturally interesting buildings to be found there are the Church of Santa Marina, the Chapel of Atalaya and some good examples of Large Houses and Colonial Indiano architecture. Puerto de Vega is considered one of the starting points the Historical Park of the River Navia, through a museum called “Histories of the Sea” which is dedicated to the Life at the Sea.

In this area you will enjoy amazing long beaches surrounded by mountains, stunning landscapes and coastal Routes such as The Beach of Navia, The Beach of Frexulfe or the amazing Barayo Beach, a natural paradise beside a river and forest which was declared Partial Natural Biosphere Reserve.

You have also very nice walking routes to do like “The Coastal Route from Barayo to Navia” or a part of “The Route of Santiago” through the «Northern Route«.

The Gastronomy in Navia is mainly traditional Asturias cuisine with some Galician influences. Casseroles dominate the menu along with Asturian reared beef, fresh fish from the rivers and sea and cheeses and desserts from the area.

In August they celebrate the “Swimming Descent of the River Navia”, an impressive swimming competition and festival considered to be of National Interest.

More info: Navia Tourist Office

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com

Images supplied by Tomás Fano, Ayto de Navia, Parque Historico del Navia, and Turismo Asturias: Camilo Alonso.