The Heartbeat of Asturias: From Cangas de Onís to Oviedo

The Autonomous Community of Asturias is located in northern Spain, with a total area half the size of Beijing, yet it boasts extremely diverse terrain, earning it the name: the land between the sea and the mountains. Over 80% of the area is mountainous and hilly, and one-third of the territory is designated as a natural reserve. Because of this, it became a stronghold of Christian resistance during the Muslim invasion period. Cangas de Onís is a small town nestled between mountains and water, easy to defend but hard to attack, and is also the cradle of the Kingdom of Asturias. In 711 AD, a nobleman named Pelayo led a small group of warriors to defeat the Muslim army here. This victory was not only a military miracle but also regarded by later generations as "the starting point of the Christian Reconquest of Spain"—the famous Reconquista. After the battle, Pelayo established the first Christian kingdom here—the Kingdom of Asturias. Therefore, Cangas de Onís is honored as the cradle of the Spanish kingdom. Later, when the capital moved to Oviedo, it gradually faded from political prominence. One of the town’s most representative buildings is the famous Roman Bridge, known for its elegant three-arch design, with the Victory Cross, the symbol of Asturias, hanging in the center. Oviedo is the starting point of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, and its cathedral serves as a pilgrimage site for believers before they set out. The Cathedral of San Salvador, the Palace of Santa María del Naranco, and the Church of San Miguel de Lillo represent the unique style of early medieval European art and are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. After the 10th century, the kingdom’s capital was moved again. Oviedo’s political influence waned but it retained its status as the "spiritual capital." Figure 17: A unique way to drink cider older than Spain itself: raising it high above the head, letting the foam fly Figure 18: A glimpse of a traditional Asturian tavern Figure 19: A drinking game where the loser has to buy drinks for others.