Discovering Asturias

The North of Spain may not be as popular as Madrid or Barcelona, but it has so much to offer! Home to breathtaking natural landscapes, stunning beaches and captivating architecture, the options are limitless. I spent a weekend in Asturias discovering the coastal beauty of Gijón and strolling through Oviedo's historical town. Keep reading to see the highlights of my trip!

We set off on the bus early in the morning and made several stops on the way to Oviedo. The first stop of our trip was the Mirador de la Cueva. This cliff lined coastline offers stunning views of the scenery; a perfect place to appreciate nature in all of its beauty.

Around 80% of Spain's cider is produced in Asturias. There's even a statue known as the cider tree made up of 3,200 glass bottles in the middle of Gijón's town centre. It was raining pretty heavily so we stopped off in a tavern where were given an insight into the process behind the famous cider of the region and were shown how to pour the drink the right way.

On our way to Oviedo, we visited the beautiful seaside town of Cudillero. The fishing village is a hidden gem in every sense of the word; tucked away in the middle of nowhere, a variety of local shops and restaurants seem to melt into each other tumbling into the twinkling blue waters below. Terracotta roofs and bleached white buildings make this place picture perfect. It was a little cloudy, so imagine how beautiful it is when the sun is shining! If you're looking for a momento from your trip there are several souvenir shops nearby selling magnets and postcards to remind you of your visit.

Day two of our stay was spent exploring Oviedo. Voted the cleanest city of Spain, the region is also a hotspot for cultural events. Dotted throughout the city are several statues commemorating the arts; in the middle of its very own central park, Parque del Camino Santiago, lies a statue of the popular Argentinian cartoon character Mafalda, constructed in homage to Quino for his creation.

Oviedo is a town with a strong history. Our city tour took us through the medieval city centre and along the cobbled streets up to the university and the Gothic Cathedral. The church fuses Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic elements together and is considered to be the main historic monument in the region. The entrance to the cathedral points in the direction of the Santiago de Compostela and is frequented by those taking on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Even if you're not taking part in the pilgrimage, it's beautiful architecture and historical importance make it worth a visit.

Oviedo is also renowned for its nightlife. Past and present meet in the old town where bars, clubs and restaurants spill onto the cobblestone streets, blaring music from latin to rock and electronic. I was sick when we went so I couldn't take advantage of the bars, but there's a lot of options for the party goers out there looking to let loose.

On our final day, we went to the Museo de Bellas Artes which is the most important museum in Asturias. Its collection hosts works of art from the likes of Picasso, Goya, El Greco, Dalí and Míro and its easy to lose yourself in the intertwining passageways linking the three buildings together. With over 15,000 works, it has a number of exhibitions exploring race and gender dating back to centuries ago, including glass works, sculptures and paintings. Entrance is free, so it's a great budget friendly activity to do.

After the museum, we checked out of the hotel and started off on the journey home. The final stop of our trip was the Playa de las Catedrales, a beach owing its name to the formation of the cliffs. When the tide is low, you can walk through a labyrinth of arches and caves and feel the sand between your toes, or marvel at the views from the cliff top. Although small in size, its considered a natural monument and is a World Heritage Site.

The natural landscapes in Asturias made the trip worth it on their own, but it's history and culture make it really unique. If you find yourself in the North of Spain, I would 100% recommend making a trip to the region.