Very different to the well-known tourist areas of the northern Spain, the province of ASTÚRIAS is home to the stunningly rugged Green Coast “Costa Verde” that is noted for its high cliffs, beautiful sandy beaches, little harbour towns such as Cudillero, Luarca and Llanes.

This  ‘natural paradise’ comes at the price of higher annual rainfall, but this is a haven for hikers, mountain bikers and rock climbers, cavers and nature lovers will adore the many dense and protected forests of Asturias, where eagles soar and rare Cantabrian brown bears, wild boars and wolves roam.

The region is also rich in religious sites and historic monuments. Major attractions are the Way of Saint James, with its numberless buildings from pre-romanic epoch such as the churches Santa Maria del Naranco, San Julian de los Prados, San Miguel de Lillo - distinguished with the World Heritage designation - which leads through Asturias and the Ruta de la Plata, "silver route”, which starts in Asturias.

Artisany and gastronomy are of high reputation, you may try excellent sea-food along the coast and, in the mountains, typical dishes such as “fabada asturiana” – a robust bean and meat stew. Due to its fertile region, the region is also popular for its cheese, Gamonéu and Cabrales, all accompanied by a glass of cider made from local apples.

Oviedo, the capital, is a gem of medieval architecture. On the coast, the old estuary port of Avilés also has plenty of character and is the region’s cultural hub. The historic city of Gijón, founded already by Romans, is the biggest city in Asturias, and it has a lovely old fishing quarter.

Asturias is all this, and much more. Come and find out why it is one of the Spain’s best-kept secrets.

 

 

While the southern coast, punctuated with bays and legendary beaches with warm waters, has long been a magnet to beach lovers and adventure seekers from all over the world, Northern Spain remains an undiscovered gem.

As soon as you reach Bay of Biscay, everything changes – the air becomes cooler, the landscape greener, and the Moorish heritage remains increasingly rarer.  This corner of Spain might seem like a completely different country, full of history and breathtaking landscapes.

It’s this unique combination of landscapes and lifestyles, fused with fantastically fresh food and tremendous historical riches that makes this tiny region of northern Spain such a pleasure to explore. And yet, by Spanish standards, Cantabria remains relatively undeveloped, apart from the odd minor resort area here and there.