Asturias is one of our favorite destinations. And it is that in addition to having some of the most beautiful towns in Spain, in Asturias you can enjoy a very pleasant climate in summer. That is why today we propose towns on the Asturian coast that we believe you should not miss.
In this first part we are going to travel the coast between Gijón and the border with Galicia. Avilés, Cudillero and Luarca they have been the three chosen peoples. All invite you to get lost in its streets, to walk and retrace, so as not to miss any of its corners.
Avilés
The city of Avilés is our first stop. A city built on the banks of the Avilés estuary, just a few 30 km from Gijón, offers us one of the most beautiful historical helmets that we can find in Asturias. Declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1955, getting lost in its streets is the best way to discover it, although a map doesn't hurt either.
Places that you cannot miss in the Historic Center
- The Sabugo neighborhood, known as the neighborhood of the sailors, one of the most picturesque areas of this historic center.
- La Plaza de los Hermanos Orbón, in which the Las Aceñas Market is located, built in the XNUMXth century.
- La Romanesque church from the XNUMXth century of the Franciscan Fathers located in Plaza Carlos Lobo, in front of the Museum of Urban History. In it is the tomb of Pedro Menéndez, the advance of Florida, navigator and founder of the oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine of Florida.
- La Plaza de España or The Patch and the surrounding streets: Ferrería, Cámara or Rivero
- La Plaza de Domingo Álvarez Acebal, in which are among other beautiful facades those of the Balsera Palace and the Church of San Nicolás de Bari.
- Galiana street, a street of just 252 meters built in the seventeenth century during the city's Baroque expansion. The longest supported street in Avilés and the only one with a double pavement: one paved for the transit of cattle and another made of tile for the citizens.
- Ferrera park, a now public English-style park that for centuries the Marquis owned for their enjoyment at the back of the Ferrera Palace.
In addition, you may find it interesting to visit the La Carriona Municipal Cemetery, a place with great historical and artistic relevance that is part of the ASCE (Association of Significant Cementeries in Europe). And of course the Niemeyer center, a cultural center designed by the famous Brazilian architect Óscar Niemeyer and located in the middle of the estuary.
Cudillero
The small fishing village of Cudillero, declared a Historic Artistic Site, It stands out for its organization in the form of an amphitheater and for the cheerful colors of its houses. Reasons why it is worth visiting and getting lost among its sloping streets and alleys.
Getting carried away is the ideal way to discover both the town and some of the best views of the bay. Afterwards, it is also advisable to walk the promenade that connects the port with the Cudillero lighthouse, built in 1858 and from which beautiful panoramic views are obtained.
Very close to Cudillero I encourage you to visit too The Quinta de Selgas, a complex of palace and landscaped estate of 900000 m2 built between 1880 and 1895 at the initiative of the brothers Ezequiel and Fortunato de Selgas Albuerne. The palace preserves its original decoration almost intact, and houses paintings by great masters such as Goya, El Greco, Luca Giordano, Corrado Giaquinto and Vicente Carducho. The gardens, for their part, alternate between the French geometric style of the XNUMXth century and the romantic or picturesque style that became fashionable in the United Kingdom during the XNUMXth century.
Luarca
The Port of Luarca is a very photogenic place and another of the towns on the Asturian coast that you must visit. Also known as the White Villa, as this is the predominant color in their houses, it hides numerous places that are waiting to be visited. The Palacio de La Moral, a noble building dating from the XNUMXth, XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries located on Calle Olavarrieta is one of them. Another, the fishermen's quarter The Cambaral,
The hermitage of Nuestra Señora la Blanca and the Luarca lighthouse they make up an architectural complex of great beauty. Located at the end of the Atalaya promontory, it offers unbeatable views. Although if we talk about views, we should also mention those that are obtained from the hermitage of San Roque, located on a hill.
Another must-see in Luarca is the Bosque Jardín de la Fonte Baixa, the second private botanical garden in Spain. An Atlantic garden of more than 500 hectares made up of thematic walks, ponds and squares where guided tours are offered.
Do you know any of these towns on the Asturian coast?