Asturias

Asturias, officially the Principality of Asturias, is an autonomous community in northwestern Spain. It is bordered by Cantabria to the east, Castile and León to the south, Galicia to the west, and the Bay of Biscay to the north. Its capital and administrative center is Oviedo; the largest city by population is Gijón. The region is geographically diverse, with the Cantabrian Mountains in the south, a rugged coastline along the Bay of Biscay, and the interior including the Picos de Europa. The climate is temperate and wet, typical of the Atlantic coast.

Historically, Asturias played a pivotal role in the early Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula. Pelayo’s victory at Covadonga in 722 is traditionally regarded as the founding moment of the Kingdom of Asturias, which later contributed to the formation of the Crown of Castile. In the modern era, Asturias became an autonomous community in 1982 under the Statute of Autonomy.

Economy and culture have shifted from a traditional base in coal mining and heavy industry toward services, manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture (notably dairy farming and apples used for cider). Asturian cuisine is known for fabada asturiana, seafood, and cheeses such as Cabrales. The region maintains a distinct cultural identity, with traditional music, cider-pouring customs, and the Asturian language, also known as Asturian or Bable, recognized as part of the regional linguistic heritage alongside Spanish.

Asturias preserves a rich architectural and natural heritage. Notable sites include medieval and pre-Romanesque churches, the cathedral in Oviedo, and stately palaces, as well as landscapes in the Covadonga area and the Picos de Europa that attract hikers and nature enthusiasts.