The Fountain of the Foncalada

This is the inscription engraved upon the Foncalada: a fountain near the city center, and the only remaining civil service structure in Asturias still standing from the Middle Ages. It was constructed in the 9th Century at the behest of King Alfonso III, and features the Victory Cross above the inscription.

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Al Fondo Hay Sitio – Music Bar

On a rainy Saturday night, I went to a bar which a couple friends had recommended. Al Fondo Hay Sitio... There's Room at the Back. It was a fun evening out. The bar had a great atmosphere with live rock music, a good selection of beers and an abundance of tapas, which the waiter insisted I try. "Picante, ¡SÍ!" Bowls of fruit were on the tables, and a guest book was at the door; funny little touches that give the bar a unique feel.

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Benito Jerónimo Feijóo

Though he was born in Galicia, Benito Jerónimo Feijóo spent the bulk of his life in Oviedo. One of Spain's foremost enlightenment thinkers, the intellectual, religious and philosophical works of Feijóo had reverberations throughout the world. The Benedictine monk died in 1769 at the ripe old age of 89, and is buried in the Iglesia de Santa María de la Corte, near the plaza which bears his name.

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The Miners’ Strike of 1934

A couple years before the Spanish Civil War, a mini-revolution would rock Asturias and Oviedo. The Miners' Strike of 1934, or the Revolución de Asturias, lasted just two weeks but resulted in a lot of carnage. It was one of the first indications that the bad blood between "The Two Spains" was about to boil over.

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Carbayón – The Pastry

Carbayón is a word with various meanings to the people of Oviedo. First and foremost, it refers to a beloved oak tree which had been the symbol of Oviedo for centuries, until it was torn down to make room for Calle Uria in 1879. The term "carbayón" can also refer to a native of Oviedo.

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Inside the Cathedral of San Salvador

As is the case in almost every Spanish city, Oviedo's most impressive and important building is its cathedral. With a history stretching back to the 8th century, and an official name which takes nearly eight centuries to pronounce, the Santa Iglesia Basílica Catedral Metropolitana de San Salvador de Oviedo is the must-see highlight during a visit to the city.

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