THINGS YOU CAN DO IN ASTURIAS
Adventure sports
Asturias is
growing in popularity as a destination for a range of adventure sports and
recreations. The variety of the region
lends itself to many activities ranging from hang gliding and bungee jumping
through to canoeing, archery and snowboarding.
Most towns
and particularly those around the “Picos de Europa” mountains, or one close to
a river, will have at least one company that can provide you with everything
from specialist clothing to equipment, training and group excursions. For example,
the sport shop Deportes Pardo in Avilés sell articles for hunting, fishing and
diving. There are also many shops in which you can rent your material such as
the successful company SKIMAL, to rent or buy ski products.
If you want
to participate in, or experience one of these adventure sports, you need
firstly to select the location of your stay. You should search one or two
hotels which can provide you the equipment or another ones which have sports
courses. You can ask them about adventure sport options and information and
contact details for local companies who can assist you in the provision of
equipment and if necessary supervision. Most hotels will be happy to do this
and some will even help you make the bookings. You may also find that some
hotels include an adventure sport or activity (often canoeing) within a special
multi night stay package. For example, the hotel Santa Cristina, situated on
the Cordillera Cantábrica, is perfectly located to cyclists who want to ascend
along the various landscapes in Asturias, which is a great challenge.
It is impossible to provide a comprehensive listing of which adventure sport options are offered in which locations, but below is a list of the more common and accessible activities. Obviously you will find activities like mountaineering around the “Picos” and water based sports close to one of Asturias’ rivers.
Surfing
Nowadays,
surfing is a very popular sport in Asturias and it is mainly done in the San Lorenzo’s Beach, Gijón, and in the Salinas
Beach in Salinas , near Avilés. Around this beaches there are lots of shops
with surfing articles, specially in Gijón, and you can aim for some surfing
courses such us the following:
Mountaineering Climbing Trekking and Hiking
You don’t
need several things to this sports so the buys are not a problem. There are
many hotels in the mountains to disfrute them, ones better than others. In this
page you can choose what do you need.
In
trekking, there are also many precious routes around the coast.
Horse riding
In Asturias
you can aim to excursions riding horses. The best ones are those in Somiedo,
with a very beautiful scene around you!
Canoeing Diving and Sailing
The most
famous act in canoeing in Asturias is the descend of the Sella River. The best
place to do sailing is Gijón with courses such as proastur https://www.yumping.com/vela/proastur-vela--e19730281
The shop immersion
Kike in Gijón is the best shop in Asturias and there you’ll find articles of
diving and dive fishing.
Bungee Jumping
A good
example of an bungee jumping offer is in the bridge of Villasuso de Cieza,
which rises 30 meters above the ground. You only can jump if you have more than
18 years old.
Archery
The best
place to do archery in Asturias are the facilities in Ribadesella, where
several competitions take place.
Paintball
In Asturias
there are numerous forests to do paintball. Here is a great offer with cheap
accommodation, one hm2 of forest and all the necessary materials.
Skiing
As I had
already mentioned, the best hotel near mountains is SKIMAL. The ski station in
Asturias is Pajares.
FOOD AND DRINK
Asturias´ gastronomy is based on cider, fabada (bean stew) and cheese, together with shellfish and fish. If Asturian cuisine had to be described in few words, it could be defined as slow cooking over low heat. The Asturians do not use many spices or other condiments in their dishes which could change the natural taste of the ingredients. The kitchens use old-style stoves which remember you an atmosphere from another era, contrasting strongly with the stress of modern day life. Asturians delight in their stews, the "fabada" being the queen of them all.
Fabada:
It is a typical dish from the north of Spain, Asturias. It is very popular in Spain due to its large size, tender texture and thin skin. Use them in this traditional Spanish dish Fabada Asturiana. It is cultivated by farmers in the most traditional style used centuries. It is recomendable eat for lunch due it is not light dish. For example, this are two restaurants which have a delicious fabada.
Casa gerardo
Casa chema
Frixuelos:
Frixuelos are a simple crepe-like dessert made of flour, milk and eggs, which can be filled with a variety of fillings - sweet or salty.
This basic recipe for frixuelos can be prepared on the sweet side, by filling them with whipped cream or egg custard. If you want to prepare the traditional Asturian frixuelos, fill with apple compote, and serve as dessert. Scrambled eggs, melted cheese or small chunks of meat can make salty frixuelos.Rather than stuffing the frixuelos with a filling, some modern cooks stack them up like pancakes, spreading whipped cream or chocolate sauce between the frixuelos.
But in Asturias there are also great restaurants which serves espectacular frixuelos, such as:
Cider:
Some popular sidrerías in Asturias are:
La Sindical
El Meollo
CRAFT.
HIGH STREET
Shopping in Asturias
All of the larger towns of Asturias have a good range and variety of shops and these shops will nearly all be speciality shops. Expect to see butchers, grocers, bakers and stores selling single garment types like shoes or hats. Most shops will be family owned and managed and the level of personal service will be high.
Most items will be good value to visitors from the UK but you need to be careful what you purchase to take home. Many food products will not be acceptable at customs, so if you intend to take food ensure that it is adequately sealed and packaged. Drinks do not normally fall under these restrictions.
Holiday keepsakes are also a possible purchase, but always be aware of their weight and any implications on your air baggage limits.
There are a lot of shops in Asturias but, obviusly, the best ones are those in the big cities (Gijón Avilés and Oviedo) so I will talk about this.
Gijón
In Gijón some streets of the center make up one of the most splendid open commercial spaces of the north of Spain. It is almost impossible not to find what you are looking for in the many shops of Gijón. If we consider going shopping in Gijón, we should know that Gijón has representation of the main fashion chains in Spain. The open shopping center that makes up some of the most important streets of the center of Gijón such as the streets Menendez Valdes, San Bernardo, Los Moros, Corrida, Cabrales or Covadonga center the commercial interest of the center, which are one of the most commercial spaces Important of Asturias. but the main shopping area here is the Soho which is a small area that encompasses 3 or 4 blocks and that is in the old part of the city, perhaps the axis of this area is the Calle Instituto and La Merced Street, here we find a great variety of shops like vshoe stores, florists, bookstores, art galleries, mills, bicycle shops, etc. in order not to be bored. Here I name some of these stores:
Galeria de Arte de Gema Llamazares.
FOOD AND DRINK
Asturias´ gastronomy is based on cider, fabada (bean stew) and cheese, together with shellfish and fish. If Asturian cuisine had to be described in few words, it could be defined as slow cooking over low heat. The Asturians do not use many spices or other condiments in their dishes which could change the natural taste of the ingredients. The kitchens use old-style stoves which remember you an atmosphere from another era, contrasting strongly with the stress of modern day life. Asturians delight in their stews, the "fabada" being the queen of them all.
Fabada:
It is a typical dish from the north of Spain, Asturias. It is very popular in Spain due to its large size, tender texture and thin skin. Use them in this traditional Spanish dish Fabada Asturiana. It is cultivated by farmers in the most traditional style used centuries. It is recomendable eat for lunch due it is not light dish. For example, this are two restaurants which have a delicious fabada.
Casa gerardo
Casa chema
Rice pudding:
Spanish rice pudding is one of te most traditional and popular Spanish desserts. Literally translated, arroz con leche means rice with milk, but it's actually a thick rice pudding that everyone makes a slightly different way. Most recipes call for lemon peel and cinnamon sticks, and others add alcohol, additional spices, orange peel and even a layer of caramelized sugar on top!
This classic arroz con leche recipe is served in households all over Asturias. It is rich and sweet with a touch of lemon flavor. It is a very easy recipe and can be served warm or cold.
The best restaurants where you can eat this delicious dessert are:
Frixuelos:
Frixuelos are a simple crepe-like dessert made of flour, milk and eggs, which can be filled with a variety of fillings - sweet or salty.
This basic recipe for frixuelos can be prepared on the sweet side, by filling them with whipped cream or egg custard. If you want to prepare the traditional Asturian frixuelos, fill with apple compote, and serve as dessert. Scrambled eggs, melted cheese or small chunks of meat can make salty frixuelos.Rather than stuffing the frixuelos with a filling, some modern cooks stack them up like pancakes, spreading whipped cream or chocolate sauce between the frixuelos.
But in Asturias there are also great restaurants which serves espectacular frixuelos, such as:
Cider:
Cider(Sidra) production in Spain is concentrated in Asturias. Asturian cider is called Sidra. The Principado de Asturias is responsible for 80% of Spain’s cider production. Reaching up to 54 liters a year per person, they drink more cider per capita in this small province than anywhere else in the world. In Asturias, Sidra Natural (hard cider) is more than a drink: it’s a symbol of regional identity. Only in Asturias, in sidrerías, is practised the pour, which consist of to full a glass with cider with a particular technique. See it in this video.
Some popular sidrerías in Asturias are:
La Sindical
El Meollo
CRAFT.
Asturian
handicrafts are being rediscovered because they use traditional techniques and
raw materials so they contribute to establish the rural population, their
centenary traditions and their cultural heritage. They also demand low energy
consumption, they do not damage the environment, and they complement other
agricultural, fishing or tourist activities. Traditional handicrafts promote
creativity and generate a high added-value that allows them to be a profitable
business.
Traditional
studios coexist with a new trade strategy based on innovation, reuse of raw
materials, which have been the basis of their products for years, and the
incorporation of design techniques and other raw materials to obtain new
shapes.
Craftmanship in Asturias is mainly based on these materials:
Pottery
Asturias is a region with a deep-rooted pottery tradition. The first establishment of crockery factories and artisan workshops date from the 18th century. Faro, in Limanes (Oviedo) and Llamas de Mouro (Cangas del Narcea) are the main settlements of potters in Asturias, so they are famous for the manufacture of pots, pans and, above all, black pottery.
Wood
Wood is the main raw material for the manufacture of Asturian handicrafts due to the abundance of forests of chestnut, oak, beech, etc., and the quality of their timber. The wood was used by the traditional society for the building of dwellings, hórreos (traditional Asturian granaries), and the manufacture of domestic objects, such as tankards, lunch boxes, bowls, and madreñas (traditional Asturian clogs). There is a long tradition of wood artisans in Asturias, including manufacturers of madreñas, baskets, wicker products and bowls.
Metal
Forges are places where the iron ore or grey cooper ore are forged. They had a great importance in the 18th century. The abundance of minerals and water to give power to the blow-up machines that stoked up the fire were very popular in the west of Asturias. Somiedo is one of the Asturian city councils with the higher number of iron deposits, large rivers and big forest, Taramundi is famous for its knives and pocket knives, and Miranda is a place where almost all families were boilermakers.
Black Jet
Black jet is a coal which was fossilized 70 million years ago and turned into black lignite coal. It is an ideal raw material for patient and handy artisans. Asturias is the birthplace of the jet trade since Asturian citizens started to sell it to Galician farmers in the 18th century. The only mine of jet black in Spain is found in the rural parish of Oles, in Villaviciosa.
Leather
The 18th century was a period of growth for Asturian crafts, and new leather factories were opened in Oviedo, Tineo and Gijón. Production of leather products was really high in that period due to the shoemakers’ guild that reached fame in Noreña and Pimiango.
Jewellery
In Asturias there are a lot of craftmans dedicated to the making of pieces of jewelry and goldsmiths from the manipulation and decoration of different noble metals. Asturias counts among its historical patrimony with several pieces of goldsmithery of great artistic value as the crosses of Los Angeles and of the Victory or the Box of the Agates. At the present time, the jewelry and goldsmiths are two of the predominant artisan activities in the autonomous community. There are numerous jewelery shops in Asturias distributed their localities, concentrated especially in the larger cities
HIGH STREET
Shopping in Asturias
All of the larger towns of Asturias have a good range and variety of shops and these shops will nearly all be speciality shops. Expect to see butchers, grocers, bakers and stores selling single garment types like shoes or hats. Most shops will be family owned and managed and the level of personal service will be high.
Most items will be good value to visitors from the UK but you need to be careful what you purchase to take home. Many food products will not be acceptable at customs, so if you intend to take food ensure that it is adequately sealed and packaged. Drinks do not normally fall under these restrictions.
Holiday keepsakes are also a possible purchase, but always be aware of their weight and any implications on your air baggage limits.
Gijón
In Gijón some streets of the center make up one of the most splendid open commercial spaces of the north of Spain. It is almost impossible not to find what you are looking for in the many shops of Gijón. If we consider going shopping in Gijón, we should know that Gijón has representation of the main fashion chains in Spain. The open shopping center that makes up some of the most important streets of the center of Gijón such as the streets Menendez Valdes, San Bernardo, Los Moros, Corrida, Cabrales or Covadonga center the commercial interest of the center, which are one of the most commercial spaces Important of Asturias. but the main shopping area here is the Soho which is a small area that encompasses 3 or 4 blocks and that is in the old part of the city, perhaps the axis of this area is the Calle Instituto and La Merced Street, here we find a great variety of shops like vshoe stores, florists, bookstores, art galleries, mills, bicycle shops, etc. in order not to be bored. Here I name some of these stores:
Galeria de Arte de Gema Llamazares.Considered the largest open mall in Asturias Gijón stores are an ideal place to buy all kinds of fashion or gift items, Gijón shops are grouped in the Union of Merchants.
Avilés
Avilés is known for many charms, and undoubtedly, one of them is the variety and quality of the city trade, being famous throughout Asturias.
From the most traditional products of the field that can be found in the market of Hermanos Orbón square, with fresh zabarceras and fresh fish in the fishing port, passing through the butchers with premium products that come from the rich hut County and Asturian; To the most modern boutiques and specialized trade with the leading brands and national and international firms, which settle in the streets of the Historic Quarter of Avilés, with a varied commercial mix of clothing, footwear and accessories stores; Perfumeries, jewelry, gifts, home, beauty, and so on, which is also repeated in the commercial areas of new expansion in Avilés, as well as in the modern and avant-garde Piedras Blancas trade and Las Vegas in the council Of Corvera. Strolling through the streets and commercial areas of the cities of Comarca Avilés is a real gift for sight and senses, since the traveler can discover a rich variety and range of products and services, with an excellent value for money, and a Very professional, warm and kind treatment, which make the act of buying in the urban shops of Comarca Avilés a very gratifying feeling. Comarca Avilés also has a large network of local supermarkets, with a large variety and assortment of products, as well as modern shopping centers such as Parque Astur in Trasona and El Corte Inglés shopping center in La Carriona. Some of the most recomended shops in Avilés:
Dulce Maria Albuerne Gonzalez
Gonzalez Garcia SilverioDeportes Pardo
Centro comercial Parque Astur
Centro Meanas
Essenz Avilés Atrio
Garcia Unica Santos
Libreria Victor Nunez
Kafsulas Informaticas
Planet Sofa
Oviedo
The city of
Oviedo forms in itself a Great Urban Natural Shopping Center, in which along
its streets and squares innumerable small establishments of Commerce / Services
and of Hospitality. In the same you can provide all kinds of articles and
services with countless advantages. The most
important commercial area of Oviedo is undoubtedly Uría Street, where banks,
insurance companies, as well as department stores (El Corte Inglés, Zara, etc.)
and boutiques are located. Following
the center's pedestrian clashing plans, other surrounding streets have also
become important commercial hubs, including Gil de Jaz Street, Independencia,
Doctor Casal, or Nueve de Mayo Street, where Located the Salesas Shopping
Center. Oviedo also
offers a mix of large areas such as El Corte Ingles and charming little shops. In
the Fontán market you will find a closed area for fish, meat and vegetables. There are
also two large areas: Los Prados Shopping Center, located in Teatinos
neighborhood on the grounds of the former slaughterhouse along the A-66
motorway, and Parque Principado, which although located on the border with the
council of Siero, concentrates Multitude of ovetenses daily that go there to
make their purchases. It is
possible to mention also the small commerce, located in the districts of the
periphery of the city.Here are 6 of the most valuated shops in Oviedo:
Mercado Fontan
Diego Verdu Monerris
