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Asturias

Make the most of your time in Asturias, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links to plan your visit.

Similarly to its neighbour Galicia, Asturias exhibits cultural influences from the Celtic tribes that settled in the region initially. It is, also like Galicia, in the part of Spain which is known as Green Spain, while another famous characteristic is its production of cheese, particularly the likes of Cabrales. Asturias has 345 kilometres of glorious coastline which features sandy beaches, high cliffs and coves, all looking out on the Cantabrian Sea. The community is streaked with mountains which have proved helpful in staving off attacks in the past; there is the beautiful Picos de Europa National Park with peaks of more than 2,500 metres, and the Cantabrian mountains which form a natural border with Castile and Leon.

To Asturias’ west is Galicia, to its south is Castile and Leon while to its east is the community of Cantabria. The region’s capital is Oviedo which in former years has been the capital of the Kingdom of Leon. Asturias is home to some one million inhabitants; the coastal areas tend to be more densely populated but it is still fairly sparse, taking up the label of Spain’s 13th most populous division. Meanwhile, its 10,000 square kilometres make it Spain’s 10th largest area. The climate is generally mild and sometimes damp while its main rivers – Deva, Sella and Nalon – rarely suffer from a lack of water due to the rainfall and the melting snow from the mountains.

Spanish is the region’s official language although there is also an Asturian dialect which is widely spoken. Asturia is, like the rest of Spain’s communities, an autonomous division and has been so since 1981 when it was issued with a Statute of Autonomy. From its assembly its competencies include health, education and the environment.

Asturias is known for its seafood, however a favourite dish is the Fabada Asturiana which is a rich stew. It also produces much cider thanks to its orchards. The economy was formerly based on agriculture and fishing but during the Franco era it became the centre of Spain’s steel industry. It was also big on coal mining at this time too although both industries are in decline now while the construction industry thrives.

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