Asturias
Spain – Costa Verde | Anno 2025
Covadonga
Covadonga
Covadonga – The Basilica of Santa María la Real de Covadonga was built on the site where the Moorish invasion was halted in 722. This was, in fact, the beginning of the Reconquista, which would last for over seven hundred years and ultimately liberate the entire peninsula in 1492
It was a certain Pelayo who accomplished this feat. He became the first king of Asturias |
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The Cross of Covadonga symbolises this important victory |
Because Mary made a decisive contribution, the Basilica of Santa María la Real de Covadonga was built in her honour in this remote place in the middle of the Picos de Europa
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Basilica of Santa María la Real de Covadonga |
Chandelier |
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Cross of Covadonga |
Sacred Cave with the image of the Virgin of Covadonga
Cangas de Onís
In 722 Cangas de Onís became the first capital of the early medieval Christian kingdom of Asturias, the seed of modern-day Spain
The “Roman” bridge over the Río Sella actually dates back to the 14th century
Coat of arms of Cangas de Onís with a reference to the struggle between Christians and Muslims (Cross of Pelayo and crescent moon), and with the bridge over the Sella |
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“Roman” bridge |
Cangas de Onís – Río Sella
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is built on a dolmen dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE. The chapel was restored in 1950 after being completely destroyed during the Spanish Civil War
Traditional granary (hórreo) on stilts. The stones at the top of the poles prevent rodents from accessing the supplies
Cangas de Onís – Río Güeña
Oviedo
Oviedo – Catedral Metropolitana Basílica de San Salvador (15th century)
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Catedral Metropolitana Basílica de San Salvador
Altarpiece (top)
Altarpiece (bottom)
Gilded altars in the apse
Camára Santa – Peter and Paul |
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James the Great and John |
Cámara Santa – Arca Santa or Holy Ark. The oak reliquary is covered with gilded silver and decorated in Romanesque style
Cámara Santa – Reliquary diptych of Bishop Gundisalvo (late 12th century)
Catedral de San Salvador – Cloister
Jardín de los Reyes Caudillos
Plaza de la Escandalera
La Maternidad (Maternity, Botero, 1989) |
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El Campo de San Francisco |
Gate of the Romanesque church of San Isidoro (second half of the 12th century)
La Torera (Mauro Álvarez Fernández, 2002) is a tribute to Josefa Carril, a popular photographer. She always wore manoletinas, the footwear worn by bullfighters
Monumento a la Concordia (Eugenia d’Ors, 1997) is an interpretation of the human figure in which physical deformation creates greater equality between men and women
San Miguel de Lillo
Around 842, King Ramiro I commissioned the construction of several buildings on the southern slopes of Mount Naranco. They are typical examples of the Asturian Pre-Romanesque style. In 1985, they were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
The San Miguel de Lillo was probably the palatinate church of the royal household. It had a tribune at the back for the monarch
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The original windows have beautiful carved stone latticework
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The buttresses depict a rope running from top to bottom and then back up again. Perhaps it symbolises the bond between man and God |
Only a third of San Miguel de Lillo remains today. The remainder was probably destroyed in the 12th century. Its function as a church then passed to Santa María del Naranco
Santa María del Naranco
The Santa María del Naranco is located just 250 m from the San Miguel de Lillo
Originally, Santa María del Naranco served as the summer palace of King Ramiro I
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Originally this altar was located in San Miguel de Lillo |
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The crypt was built as a barrel vault of extremely light tuff stone. Compared to the wooden floors common at the time, this was a significant innovation
After the partial destruction of San Miguel de Lillo, Santa María del Naranco assumed a religious function from the 12th century onwards. The building retained this function until the 19th century
Jaak Palmans
© 2025 | Version 2025-08-18 14:00