What to see in ASTURIAS | Everything hidden in Spain's Natural Paradise

Asturias. Did you know there's a place in Spain where you can see snow and the ocean at the same time? That place is Asturias. A region where the green reaches the edge of the cliff, where the mountains overlook the sea and where the past is preserved in caves, villages, and monasteries that have stood for centuries without changing. Welcome to the natural paradise of northern Spain. Picos de Europa National Park. The Picos de Europa rise up just 15 kilometers from the Cantabrian coast. It is the most ancient of the country and the largest limestone formation in Atlantic Europe. The white limestone walls rise vertically from deep valleys and the gorges opening between the mountain masses have a scale that only You understand when you're inside. The silence between the walls of rock is different from anywhere else. The trails change scenery with each The curve is such that there are sections where the mountain blocks the horizon on all sides. The Cárez Route is one of the most well-known trails in Spain. 12 kilometers carved into the rock between the gorge that separates the massif Occidental del Central with the river 100 meters downstream and the walls rises to both sides up to a thousand meters in height. A path that does not It requires technical expertise but leaves an unforgettable impression. The Bulnes orange, known in Asturian as Pico Urrielu, is a limestone needle. that rises isolated above the central massif, visible from the coast on clear days clear, climbers from around the world consider it one of the challenges more demanding in Europe. Not because of their height, but due to the verticality of their walls and the unpredictability of the weather in this part of the mountain range. Lagos de Covadonga. A few kilometers from the Picos de Europa, The landscape changes scale. The path climbs between forests and curves. closed until suddenly two glacial lakes appear, surrounded by limestone white and green meadows. They are called Enol and Ercina. They are the lakes of Covadonga. In spring, when the thaw fills the lagoons and the surroundings turn green, The water reflects the limestone peaks, and the green of the meadows covers everything surrounding it. the shores. The landscape has a calm and clarity that contrast with the strength of the surrounding mountain range. In summer, access is regulated and vehicles are not allowed to ascend. directly. There is bus service from Covadonga, a measure that has contributed to preserve the environment without overdeveloping it. Just below the lakes is the Sanctuary of Covadonga. The path descends through forests until the façade appears. rosy hue of the neo-Romanesque basilica, raised upon the rock of the massif. The cave where the image of the Virgin is venerated is part of the mountain's cliffside. converting the site into a place where architecture and nature coexist the same indivisible space. It was here, according to tradition, that King Don Pelayo resisted the Arab advance in the 8th century, an episode that history links the origin of the Kingdom of Asturias and transformed this place into a symbol of Peninsular Christian north. History and landscape sharing the same site. a few meters of vertical distance away. Kangas de Onís Kangas de Onís preserves its history with discretion. It is a quiet village, with the Sella River cutting it through from one end to the other, and only when you reach the center do you understand why This place matters. It was the first capital of the Kingdom of Asturias in the 8th century, the starting point from where the territory was organized that would give rise to one of the most significant medieval kingdoms important aspects of the peninsula. That historical weight is felt in the scale of the place and in its rhythm halted in its streets, in the stone of its buildings, and in the direct relationship with the The landscape surrounding it. The most recognizable symbol is the medieval bridge crossing the Sella River. With a curved arch rising above the river, hung at its center is the Cross of the Victory, a replica of the one traditionally carried into battle by Don Pelayo. The center of the town maintains an accessible atmosphere with plazas, a weekly market, and a architecture that preserves its character without artificial tourist elements. It is a place to be walked through. a pie, slowly, letting every corner tell its part of the story that began here a long time ago More than a thousand years. 3. LASTRES. Lastres is built on a cliff in the eastern part of Asturias. The houses are arranged on terraced slopes descending from the heights down to the port, with cobbled streets pending, balconies with flowers and stone facades pressing against one another, looking the Cantabrian Sea. The port preserves the town's past in a visible way. Lastres was for a whaling village, and that maritime origin is evident in the structure of Barrio Bajo. Today, boats still set out to fish, and the fish auction continues. The fresco continues to be part of the daily rhythm. As you ascend the Royal Street, palaces appear. Eighteenth-century noble estates and large houses mixed with fishermen's homes. The Clock Tower, built in the 15th century to oversee the harbor, continues marking the hours with the same mechanism as always. From the lookout at San Roque, the The view opens in two directions, coast and mountain, within the same frame. Riva de Sella. Riva de Sella is split in two by the mouth of the Sella River. On one side, the historic quarter with its seaside promenade. On the other, Santa Marina Beach, with the Cantabrian Sea open in front. The bridge connecting both shores is the point from which one You understand the geography of the place. The village has a past linked to the sea and emigration. The houses built by Asturians who returned enriched from America, they splash the historic quarter with colorful facades that stand out among the architecture traditional from the surroundings. Each one tells a story of back-and-forth between Asturias and the the American continent. Every first Saturday of August, the Sella River fills with kayaks. The international descent of the Sella connects Riondas with Riva de Sella over 20 kilometers of water, with thousands of participants and spectators along the banks since the 1930s. It is one of the events one of Europe's oldest kayaking sites. Santa Marina Beach has fine sand and calm waters, protected by the promontory of Monte Corberu, which extends into the sea, closing off the bay. High above, the hermitage of the Virgin of the Guide overlooks the cliff, offering a view of the ria. The bridge, the historic quarter, and the curve of the beach opening toward the Cantabrian Sea. Llanes Llanes has medieval walls that still encircle part of the historic district. Inside, Cobbled streets, palaces with stone coats of arms, and a main square that concentrates the life of the town. It is a town with an urban character within a coastal setting. The port remains active, with fishing boats sharing the dock with recreational vessels. Regarding the breakwater, the artist Agustín Ibarrola painted a series of colored cubes in the 1990s. what turned that concrete structure into something completely unexpected within a port in Asturias. On the cliffs of Pría, Something occurs here that has no equivalent along the rest of the coast. The waves of the Cantabrian Sea penetrate through cracks and natural tunnels in the rock, it shoots upward in the form of a geyser. The Pría fountains spout columns of water into several meters high, accompanied by a sound heard from afar. The performance depends on the sea conditions. The path to the cliffs is accessible. And the landscape surrounding the route is part of the experience. Green meadows, reaching right to the edge of the cliff, and the Cantabrian Sea crashing against the rock below. Oviedo is the capital of Asturias and the city where the history of the medieval kingdom is felt most clearly Its stone streets, palaces, and squares form a compact historic district that is easily explored A pie, with layers of architecture spanning from the 9th to the 20th century, without anything feeling out of place. The Cathedral of San Salvador is the center of everything. Its Gothic tower dominates the city's skyline, and its interior houses the Holy Chamber. declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here are preserved some of the most valuable pieces of medieval Spanish goldsmithery. relics that turned Oviedo into one of the major pilgrimage destinations of on the peninsula's northern coast for centuries. A few kilometers from the center are Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo. Santa María was built as Royal Palace built by King Ramiro I and later converted into a church. Its barrel vaults, exterior galleries, and views of the city from its slope are elements that architects have analyzed and documented for centuries. In the center, the streets preserve a unique custom. Life-sized bronze sculptures are integrated into the pavement and attached to the Façades. Figures that are part of the urban landscape and that the visitor encounters unexpectedly. Plaza del Fontán, a covered market and an open square at the same time, concentrates the most authentic atmosphere of Oviedo. A space of arcades and local life that preserves his character for centuries. Quijón It has two faces coexisting in the same space. On one side, the beach of San Lorenzo extends two kilometers of sand facing the Cantabrian Sea, with the Muro Promenade running along it from end to end. It is the place where the city breathes, with terraces open to the sea, runners in the morning and families in the afternoon. The waves of the Cantabrian Sea set the pace and the The north wind accompanies it throughout the year. At the other end, the Cimadevilla Peninsula It enters the sea with the historic hull above and the recreational port below. It is the oldest neighborhood of Quijón, with roots in a Roman settlement from the first century. Its streets Cobbled streets climb uphill between stone and wood facades, cider houses open late and squares where the neighborhood's life unfolds at its own pace, which has not changed too much over time years. At the top of Cerro de Santa Catalina, at the end of Cimadevilla, stands the praise of Eduardo Chillida designed this concrete structure in 1990 to frame the sea from the land. The piece is completely open toward the Cantabrian Sea. From within, the sound of The wind changes tone, and the waves are amplified by the geometry of the work. Over the years, it has become the city's visual landmark. recognizable from different angles along the Guixón coastline. Tazones Tazones is a fishing village nestled in a small valley that opens out to the sea. The houses descend gently toward the port, with cobbled streets and facades of colors and a dock where vessels continue to berth each day. Charles I of Spain he first landed here on the Iberian Peninsula. He came from Flanders to take possession of The crown and the mist of Cantabria led him to this small port instead of Santander. where the landing was planned. The town carries that episode etched in its memory. in his identity, and every year he remembers it with a historical reenactment. In the historic district, a house stands out whose facade is completely covered with marine shells. The house of the shells creates a visual texture that breaks away from the rest of the constructions of the village and speaks of the relationship of its inhabitants with the sea For a long time. The port has kept its fishermen's brotherhood active and the restaurants along the dock The fish and seafood that arrive each morning are served. Avilés. Avilés surprises those who arrive expecting an industrial city. The medieval historic center preserves covered streets, palaces with stone coats of arms, and squares that maintain the scale of centuries ago. The arcades that cover the sidewalks form continuous galleries that run through the center, turning Avilés into Spain's second city with the greatest length of arcades after Santiago de Compostela. The street Galeana concentrates the character of the historic district. Its support structures and a pavement that preserves the cobblestone area for livestock and the smooth area for pedestrians pedestrians, speak of a city that keeps its urban memory alive. Around it, plazas, churches and palaces from different periods form a complex that is best explored on foot, slowly, discovering details in every corner. On the other side of the ria, the Niemeyer Center Completely change the visual style. Oscar Niemeyer designed this complex. cultural in the last years of his life, and it is the only work by the Brazilian architect in Spain. Curved forms of white concrete, a dome, an auditorium, and a tower are arranged around from an open square to the water. The contrast between the medieval old town and this contemporary complex define the current image of Avilés, a city that has been looking outward for centuries and continues to do so doing it. Cape Peñas. Cape Peñas is the northernmost point of Asturias and the one that protrudes the furthest in the Cantabrian Sea. The land ends here in sheer cliffs that plunge directly into the sea, with the open ocean in three directions and the constant wind arriving unimpeded from the north. The lighthouse has been in operation for over 150 years and is one of the most powerful along the coastline. Cantábrico. Its light reaches a considerable distance out to sea and has guided generations of navigators who crossed this part of the Cantabrian Sea. From their base, The view of the sea is direct and unobstructed, with cliffs dropping on both sides. sides and the horizon completely open. A trail runs along the perimeter of the cape and allows view the coast from different angles. On stormy days, the waves crash against the rock with a Force heard before seen. On calm days, the landscape shifts register, and the cape exhibits a calmness that contrasts with her usual appearance. The area around the cape is protected and free of constructions, allowing the landscape to be preserved in its original state. A space where The Asturian coast reveals its most open and exposed face. Udillero Udillero is built within a horseshoe-shaped cliff. The houses are stacked around the port, in colorful layers descending down to the water. The entire ensemble forms a natural amphitheater where each facade faces the center and the fishing port is nestled within the foundation. This arrangement was not an architectural whim. The town grew this way because La Encenada offered natural protection against the waves. From the viewpoint, the entire scene is visible. Roofs, colorful facades, the dock with its boats, and the open sea in the background. The streets are organized into levels connected by stairs and passages. With views that change at every stretch. Udillero also has its own language. The pixueto is a maritime dialect whose origins, according to local tradition, trace back to Viking roots. from when Norse navigators settled along this coast during the Middle Ages. Today Very few people speak it, but each year it is recited publicly during the festivities of Saint Peter. keeping it alive as part of the place's identity. Cabo Vidio. Between Cudillero and Luarca, the Asturian coast reaches one of its most abrupt profiles. Cape Vidio extends into the sea over cliffs that drop vertically into the water, with the lighthouse at the top as the only vertical element in the landscape. But what makes This cape is more than just the lighthouse. Right beneath the base of the cliff, accessible only with specialized guides and at low tide, the Ilesiona opens. A cave marina 60 meters high, with a vault reminiscent of a cathedral. The sailors of The area used its acoustics to sound conch shells and alert ships on foggy days. Silence Beach. The name was well chosen by whoever gave it. This beach on the western coast Asturias is nestled between quartzite cliffs that surround it on three sides, creating a cove in the shape of a shell that shields the interior from the open surf. The result is a space where the sea enters in a different way, softer, more contained. Access is via a path between trees that descends to the shoreline. At the end of the path, Staircases carved into the rock appear, and at their base, the beach. Light-colored rolling stones, dark rock on the sides, and water changing tone according to depth. The first image is the one that remains. There are no services, no surveillance, or Constructions next to the water. The environment is protected, and this condition is evident in every detail. The cliffs reach the shoreline without interruption. The vegetation tumbles down the quartzite walls, and the scattered islets in front of the cove act as a natural barrier against the current. Luarca. Luarca is built on a meander of the Río Negro, just before the water reaches the sea. The town spreads on both sides of the riverbed. with the port at the mouth and the houses climbing up the slopes surrounding it. The port divide Luarca into two areas with distinct characters. On one side, the fishermen's neighborhood with its warehouses, vessels, and the fish market where fish is auctioned every morning. On the other side, the historic center with the square, the church, and the arcades where the life of the town unfolds at the same pace as always. The views of the sea and the silence of the place create an atmosphere that surprises those who arrive without expectations. The lighthouse closes off the silhouette of the village from the edge of the cliff. Luarca is one of those places you recognize before even entering it, and leave a distinct image when they depart. Somiedo. Inside Asturias, far from the coast and far from mass tourism, Somiedo is a designated biosphere reserve by UNESCO, with five valleys separated by mountain passes, which in winter become cut off by snow for weeks. The Cantabrian brown bear has in Somiedo one of its main refuges. The bear population in the Cantabrian Mountains has been declining for decades recovering, and it is one of the territories where that recovery is visible. In spring and autumn, with patience and knowledge of the terrain, sightings are possible. The lakes of Saliencia are four glacial lagoons located at over 1500 meters above sea level. altitude, surrounded by peaks and high-altitude meadows. Access is via a narrow road that climb through oak and alder forests, until opening into a mountain landscape, where silence is the norm. In the highest valleys of the park, The thatched structures, circular stone constructions with broomstick roofs, are preserved. that for centuries served as seasonal refuge for shepherds who climbed up the cattle to the high pastures. Some remain standing in nearly deserted villages, as witnesses to a way of life that still existed just a few decades ago. Somiedo is a territory where the mountain, wildlife, and rural architecture coexist in a space that time has treated with care. Taramundi Taramundi is located at the westernmost tip of Asturias, on the border with Galicia. within a region of deep valleys and stone and slate villages. It is a small village, but it holds significant weight in the history of Spanish rural tourism. In 1986, the first rural tourism center in Spain was declared. when that way of traveling still didn't have a name. The town has an artisanal tradition that sets it apart. Taramundi's cutlery has been handcrafting knives and daggers for centuries. using techniques passed down from generation to generation. The workshops remain open, and it is possible to see the entire process. from the steel frame to the finishing of the handles. A craft that originated from the abundance of iron in the region and is today part of the place's identity. A few kilometers away, the ethnographic complex of Osteyzois preserves hydraulic mills, iron mills and pestles that operated for centuries, harnessing the power of water. The western part of Asturias surrounding Taramundi is one of the least known areas of the Principality. Unspoiled valleys, paths among chestnut groves, and a rural life that continues to have its own meaning. And with this, we reach the end of our journey through Asturias. If you want to support the channel, leave your like, subscribe, and turn on the bell so you don't miss anything lose the next destinations. Tell us in the comments which the place in Asturias caught your attention the most. And if you're planning your next trip, You can download the Budget Traveler's Guide from the first link in the description. Thank you for accompanying us this far. See you at the next destination.