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The capital of northern Spain’s fertile and mountainous Asturias region, Oviedo is an architectural delight. You’ll find distinctive pre-Romanesque architecture in its medieval heart, together with 16th-century university buildings and a plethora of sweeping squares lined with 18th-century landmarks.

Walking its storied streets with a private guide, you’ll follow the path of the “regia sedes” (royal headquarters) learning about the close links of the city with the Asturian monarchy of the 9th century. You’ll visit a multitude of heritage sites including the Cathedral of San Salvador, built in the early 14th century over an older 8th-century structure. Here, you’re likely to cross paths with pilgrims following the revered Santiago de Compostela route.

The city works well as a base for exploring the wider Asturian region, from hiking in the Picos de Europa Mountains to exploring the Costa Verde coastline. It’s also a regional gastronomic hub, where you can taste the highly prized local sidra (alcoholic cider), Cabrales cheese, Asturian fabes (beans), seafood, and local crepe-like desserts called frixuelos.

Mountaintop views

Mount Naranco forms the sky-skimming green backdrop to Oviedo. It’s an easy drive or a moderate hike to the top, and absolutely worth the journey for the panoramic views across the whole of the historic city. On a clear day you’ll be able to see to the furthest reaches of Asturias and as far as the Bay of Biscay, setting your sense of place geographically. Topped by a modern statue of Christ, the mountain is also home to two of the city’s key pre-Romanesque buildings.

Pre-Romanesque architecture

Nestled on the lower slopes of Mount Naranco, you’ll find the tall, narrow, and ornate Santa María Del Naranco — built in the 9th century as a summer palace for King Ramiro I of Asturias. Next to it, you can visit San Miguel de Lillo, a limestone, palatine chapel built concurrently by the same architect.

On a city tour, your guide will include these two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, giving you private time in both away from the crowds. You’ll find other notable examples of pre-Romanesque architecture in the city itself, including the Churches of San Tirso El Real and San Julián de los Prados (commonly known as Santullano), and the 9th-century Foncalada fountain with its moss-covered stones and fresh water spring — the only spring of its period still in existence.

Pilgrimage landmarks of Oviedo

A private guided tour around El Antiguo — the ancient heart of this city — can bring the history of its narrow, winding streets to life as you walk them. Dominating the city skyline is the Gothic tower of the Cathedral of San Salvador, which serves as a pivotal reference point on the Camino da Santiago pilgrimage.

Within the cathedral is the Cámara Santa, a small palatine chapel designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in 840 CE by King Alfonso II of Asturias to house the shroud of Oviedo, a bloodstained piece of cloth thought to have been wrapped around the head of Jesus Christ after he died.

Asturian sidra

Dating back to the Middle Ages, the production of Asturian sidra (an alcoholic cider) is an essential part of Oviedo’s rich cultural heritage. Today, Asturias remains the biggest producer of sidra in Spain, and apple orchards spread out across its leafy valleys.

One of the most notable displays of sidra tradition you’ll see in Oviedo is the specific pouring technique, with the bottle held far above the head and the cider poured from this height into a low-held glass, apparently ensuring a more intense taste. To immerse yourself in the sidra culture, you can head to Gascona Street (known as Sidra Boulevard), where sidra bars and tasting houses spill out onto the street.

Best time to visit Oviedo

Oviedo has a temperate climate with warm summers and mild, wet winters. Hotels are open year-round, but our specialists suggest visiting the city between May and October for the best weather conditions. November to April sees higher rainfall and lower temperatures, while August sees the most visitors.