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Asturias, natural park
The magnificent conservation of its nature areas has made Asturias a place to be proud of. In the Principality there're Biosphere Reserves, National Parks, Nature Reserves, Protected Landscapes and Natural Monuments. Spaces that match with the white and sandy beaches, recondite caves, crystalline lakes, dams, rivers, as well as the Native Fauna and the Flora of a sensational beauty. To visit Asturias is to visit pure wildlife. In addition, its peculiar borders, the steep mountains and the troubled sea have allowed this old kingdom to hold its customs, culture and legends unalterable.
Among the Protected Spaces, the Peaks of Europe, declared National Park since 1995 and Reserve of the Biosphere since 2003. With a surface of almost 650 square kilometers, 300 million years have been necessary to shape its stirred up landscapes. Although it extends to Cantabria and Castile and Leon, Asturias concentrates the highest mountain mass with impressive snow-covered peaks that can reach up to 2500 meters high and shining green valleys. In this exciting excursion, don't forget to make a stop at the well-known Covadonga Lakes, of glacier origin. There you'll be able to rest, to take a snack or to hike. But besides the spectacularity of the great peaks, there also exist other interesting inner routes. The route of Cangas de Narcea or the Narrow Pass of La Hermida are a clear example of this. In the region of the Narcea you'll be able to visit the imposing Basilica of Santa Maria Magdalena, a 17th century building of classicist style, or the Monastery of San Juan Bautitsa de Corias, surrounded by slope vineyards that produce the good wine of Cangas, of small production but of great tradition.But if we talk about typical brews we cannot forget about the cider, the main local drink with denomination of origin. The best place to taste it and to see how they pour it out is, without a doubt, one of many cider bars around the region. In order to accompany it, there's nothing better than a piece of the famous Cabrales cheese, a delight for lovers of this dairy product. This autonomous region is full of rural towns and houses where ancestral traditions still exist, but there're also localities clearly focused on tourism, mainly, in the coast. For example, Ribadesella, in the Eastern coast, is becoming the first tourist destination in Spain for coeliacs. A menu without gluten can be practically found at any restaurant and hotel of the city. Moreover, the beach of Santa Marina, the most popular of this locality, keeps a surprise for the first-time visitor. In the western end, on the slope to the cliff, footsteps of sauropods can be seen. Amazing, isn't it?
Gijón and Oviedo, the capital, are the two populations that concentrate the greater number of inhabitants. Gijón, located in the central coast, is strongly bound to the sea. The town has a seaport and a sport port, besides the huge beach of San Lorenzo. Oviedo, on the other hand, is the contrast. One is an inner city, although it's located only to 28 kilometers from the coast. Situated in a beautiful valley it's perfect for the people who prefer to forget about the car and go everywhere on foot. Perhaps, one of the prettiest areas is the old part of town. It's entirely pedestrianized and to the cathedral, the city council, museums and emblematic buildings next to bars, restaurants and sculptures of several personalities.
Without a doubt, a unique natural land plenty of turns to discover.
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