The Unknown Spain

The Principality of Asturias is a small region in northern Spain, surrounded by mountains that look out on the Cantabrian Sea. It enjoys an oceanic climate, with abundant rain, and the landscape is always green. Los Picos de Europa, the Parque Nacional de Covadonga and the Somiedo National Park are among the best places to admire the landscape and nature of this mountain range that crosses the north of the country, where endangered animals still live. Being a territory surrounded by mountains, the Asturian valleys have been a cradle of popular beliefs that have withstood changing times, very original myths. Songs and dances show a highly particular folklore, celebrated during the summer with many festivals.

In some villages the beginning of summer is celebrated on Saint Peter's day with the raising of the alberone, a very tall tree that is cut down and carried by the young people of the village. The festival of canoes is the most important festival in Asturias. Initially, in 1930, it was a river outing for a few friends and acquaintances from the area who wanted to enjoy the river Sella. But the idea was so successful that today, thousands of people gather on the first Saturday of August to celebrate the International Descent of the Sella, a great festive and recreational event. The Principality of Asturias, in Asturian Principau d'Asturies or Asturies, is a Spanish autonomous community made up of a single province, where the Prince is the heir to the Spanish throne.

It covers about 10,000 square kilometres and its population, in decline, slightly exceeds one million inhabitants who speak Castilian and Asturian. Its capital is the city of Oviedo, while Gijon (Xixon) is the most populated. The region is located on the northern Spanish coast. It borders Galicia to the west, Cantabria to the east, Castile and Leon to the south, and to the north it is washed by the 'Mar Cantabrico'. Already in the Liber Testamentorum of Bishop Pelayo, in the 12th century, the province of Asturias is defined as: <<Intra fines asturiarum a pirineis montibus usque in ora maris a flumine magno quod dicitur Ove usque in flumin quod dicitur Deva>>