Information about Avilés
Aviles is a city located in the Principality of Asturias that can boast of a great cultural and historical heritage, as there is evidence of human settlements since prehistoric times in it. It preserves an old town with unequalled artistic value that is worth walking through and offers excellent proposals for leisure time. Any pilgrim will be tempted to extend their stay as soon as they begin to discover its amazing places and delicious gastronomy.
It is a city on the northern route of the Camino de Santiago and is located 25 km from Gijón, 27 km from Oviedo and is very well communicated thanks to its railway network, the bus service and the important fishing port.
A little history
Avilés has a historical legacy of great importance and it is said that it was after the Roman period when it was inhabited in a permanent and definitive way. In the tenth century this city obtained a series of privileges granted under the mandate of Alfonso VI among which was the good fortune to be able to hold fairs and a weekly market.
In the Modern Age, many members of the bourgeoisie and the nobility decided to build in the town, and Avilés experienced its greatest boom at that time. Afterwards, the city lived a period of decadence that was overcome thanks to the commercial exchange with America, the arrival of the railway and the industrialization process. All this historical heritage can still be felt in the city.
What to see and do in Avilés
In Avilés you can enjoy an important variety of landscapes, architectural elements and cultural heritage. In addition, the city offers a repertoire of gastronomic and musical festivals that attract people from all over the country.
The Historic-Artistic Ensemble of Avilés
On 27th May 1955, the old town of Avilés was declared a Historic-Artistic Site thanks to its imposing architecture made up of religious buildings, streets such as Galiana and the interesting shape of its arcades.
If you want to enjoy the beauty of medieval architecture, a visit to the Palacio de Valdecarzana on Calle Carreño, the only trace of this period that remains intact in the city, is a must. You can also enjoy the Ferrera Palace, the Fountain of the Caños de San Francisco or the Church of San Nicolás de Barri. A stroll through this area is a must at any time of the year.
The Museum of the Urban History of Avilés
To know more accurately all the architectural details of the city you will have the possibility of going to the Museum of the Urban History of Avilés located in the old part of the city. It contains all the relevant events in the history of the city and offers a large exhibition hall that occupies three floors of the building.
A curiosity is that this museum is designed to be visited from the highest floor to the lowest, in that order. The exhibition shows the evolution of Avilés since prehistoric times and is perfect to see each building with different eyes, to understand the legacy that every tourist finds on his way.
The Bollo Festival
If you go to Avilés on Sunday and Easter Monday you can enjoy the famous Fiesta del Bollo, the culmination of the Holy Week festivities in the city. Its name comes inherited from the traditional roscón that is given to godchildren at this time of the year. Sunday is the day when the big parade with big-heads and dance groups takes place, something you won’t want to miss if you happen to be in the area during this eve.
Monday is also of great interest, as the street food is celebrated, for this occasion the locals bring out the tables and chairs with the intention of sharing a great meal in the streets of the city.
The Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Center
Next to the estuary of Avilés you will find the well-known Niemeyer Centre, a cultural centre designed by the Brazilian Óscar Niemeyer that takes centre stage in the city’s landscape due to the contrast of its modern architecture.
The building is in itself impressive and worth seeing, in addition, you will find an interesting variety of artistic manifestations and installations of first level with international authors.
The Interceltic Festival of Avilés and its Region
The Festival Intercéltico de Avilés y Comarca offers a wide variety of activities every summer. It pays tribute to the different cultural traditions of the Celtic countries, including music, painting, theatre, gastronomy and sports. It is organized by the Esbardu Cultural Association and has its origins in 1997.
This festival has been very well received since its inception and continues to be held every summer with great success. It is a perfect plan for those who want to enjoy a different leisure time and full of tradition in your trip, is one of the most fun faces of this curious city full of possibilities.
