Figures I’d discover this bookstore days before we leave! Filled with books about Asturias, trinkets, a couple tables for tea and esoteric tomes, Paraxuga is a super-cute little bookshop on Calle Paraíso.

Way back in August, during our first couple weeks in Oviedo, I thought I had scoured all the bookstores the city had to offer. I was mostly interested in books about Asturias. Novels, history, hiking routes, city guides, stuff like that. All the stores tended to have the same books, so I eventually just bought a couple and called it a day.

But although it’s smaller, Paraxuga has an incredible selection of Asturias-specific books, and is a neat place to spend some time. Man, I was kicking myself for not having discovered this shop earlier. They also have books about mystical things like witchcraft and tarot, if that’s your bag.

Though it’s close to downtown, Calle Paraíso isn’t a street tourists often go down. But if you’re looking for books about the province, make a beeline for Paraxuga.

Location on our Oviedo Map
Official Website

- Spain Bargain Site

In the bird’s eye view of Oviedo acheivable from the top of Mount Naranco, one building sticks out more than any other. Massive and gleaming white, with an otherworldly design, the Palacio de Congresos is unmistakable.

Perhaps in reference to its status as a modern-day palace, the building was named after a member Spanish royalty, and one of Oviedo’s most famous children, Princesa Letizia. The two side wings of the horseshoe-shaped complex hold ministry offices, a hotel occupies the back and, in the center, under its audacious roof, is an area for expositions. Underground is a shopping mall. In all, the size of the palace is over 15,000 square meters.

The building is the work of famous Spanish archtiect Santiago Calatrava, who also designed the new World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York City. We had lived in Valencia for a few years, which is Calatrava’s hometown and favorite sandbox, so we were already familiar with his work. The City of Arts and Sciences is especially unforgettable. I doubt that any modern architect has so singular a style, and Oviedo is lucky to have one of his incredible constructions.

Location on our Oviedo Map

More Calatrava Architecture: Prince Felipe Science Museum and The Agora in Valencia