Oviedo

Geographical location

The city is in the center of Asturies, between 80 and 708 meters of altitude. It is bordered in north by the communes of Mow Regueras and Llanera; in the south, by Santo Adriano, Ribera de Arriba and Mieres; in the west, by Grado; in the east, by Siero and Langreo.

It occupies a surface of 181,6 km ².

History

The legend claims that the king Fruela Ier of Asturies left hunting with his friends and that they stopped to eat in an idyllic place, roughly with the current site of the town of Oviedo. During the conversation, the question “In which place will you build the city which will be the court? ” was posed to the king, it what he answered in Latin: “ Ubi edo ” which means “(There) where I eat”.

The town of Oviedo was built on a hill that the Romain S called Ovetao . Its founder was the king asturien Fruela, wire Alphonse I^er of Asturies, which reigned of 757 with 768.

In 761, with little distance from the Roman old woman civitas of Lucus Asturum, the monks Maximum and his Fromistano nephew decided to found a farm in monastic matter along the Roman way which linked León in Pajares and Lugo de Llanera. Later on, they set up a hermitage in the honor of the martyr San Vicente. Little time after, two dozen monks united with the colonizing project, transforming the place into monastery, such as it is written in the deed of partnership signed the December 25th 781. Its first abbot, Fromistano obtained the protection of the king Fruela I, which chooses the place like residence of his wife, Munia, and in which it gave rise to his/her son, who was going to reign under the name of Alphonse II “the Pure one”.

Alphonse II transferred the capital from the kingdom of Asturies and transformed Oviedo to it into episcopal see. He moreover strengthened it and equipped with palate, churches and other buildings like an aqueduct, completely disappeared today. During his reign, one discovered in 812 with Compostelle a tomb which one supposed being that of the apostle Saint Jacques and the king was the first visitor of the tomb. On the basis of Oviedo, Alphonse II became the pilgrim inaugurating the first way of pilgrimage worms of Saint-Jacob de Compostelle.

Because of its relations with the court of Charlemagne, a flow of pilgrims started to be established: they crossed the the Pyrenees, passed by Oviedo and, from there, towards Compostelle. Consequently, the northern way is oldest of the ways of pilgrimage of Saint-Jacob de Compostelle. The first pilgrims passed by north because the way southernmost, territory recently conquered by the king, was not sure because of the frequent incursions of the Moslems. It is only during the following reigns that the Moslems were pushed back more in the south, which ensured the territories of the plate of Duero and made it possible to use this way.

In 1075, Alphonse VI of Castille, king de Léon and of Castille made a pilgrimage with Oviedo. In the church of San Salvador, it opened the holy trunk solemnly containing several relics which had been hidden with the Monsacro mount following the Moslem invasion. As from this time, Oviedo and its relics were internationally known, so much so that the pilgrims of Saint-Jacob de Compostelle deviated their road towards León and went towards north to make a halt in the asturienne city and to venerate the relics. The old proverb ¿ Quien goes has Santiago No has San Salvador there, visited Al siervo there already Al Señor? (“That which goes to Saint-Jacob and not in San Salvador, the servant visits and leaves the Lord”) stresses that Oviedo was a stage obliged on the way of Compostelle.

In 1388, king Juan I^er founded the Principality of Asturies, inaugurated by his/her Enrique son and who, since then, is regarded as the successor of the Crown; Oviedo was transformed then into capital of the Principality. At the same time the General meeting of the Principality appeared, institution of public law which, like the assembly of the Council, functioned on a purely permanent basis since the middle of the 15th century until 1834, year when it made place with the diputación provincial (general advice).

Because of a certain insulation, the modern Time was struck by an economic stagnation. At the end of the 18th century the city started to know a more intense cultural life, thanks to Feijoo. One created the Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País (“economic Company of friends of the country”), which succeeds in having a certain cultural prestige in addition to one political influence.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the inhabitant of Oviedo were the first Spaniards to reject the French invasion. As one can read it on the commemorative plaque of the first centenary, they initiated the rising of Asturies to defend Spanish independence, the May 9th 1808. It was a confrontation between the absolutists (municipal council of the cathedral) and the liberals. Under the popular pressure, the decision was made by the General meeting of the Principality in the night of the 23 to the May 24th 1808. The invading French troops were rejected, after having occupied the city one year.

In 1934, events violent one proceeded during the revolution of the October 6th: the minors of Cuenca, dissatisfied with the living conditions miserable, caused the destruction of a good part of the city. Many buildings were set fire to, the such university or the Campoamor theater; the holy room of the cathedral was dynamited. The funds bibliographical of an exceptional value of the college library could be recovered.

In 1936, during the rebellion of the army which involved the Guerre of Spain, the city, although encircled by the troops loyal supporters, joined the pro-Franco movement - then under the command of colonel Aranda - until its occupation in October 1937 by the national troops. The city was practically reduced in ashes.

Cook

What the inhabitants familialement call carbayones is a typical cake of the city called carbayón . The carbayo is a Chêne, tree crowned for old Asturien S and Cantabrie NS. “Carbayón” was the popular name of a tree centenary located in the street Uría, with the height of the Walk of Los Alamos, until in 1879, it is cut to prolong the street Uría, the current artery most popular and most important. As repair, the common one planted in 1950 a oak close to the theater Campoamor and a commemorative plaque was deposited with the site of the carbayón.

Population

Evolution of the Population

The population of Oviedo increased during all the 20th century until second half of the Années 1990 when the population stagnated at the national level. This situation changed at the beginning of the next century and, currently, the population of the commune grows again. This growth results from the migration of population of other asturiennes communes and foreign: the difference between the rate of death (11,77%) and that of the births (6,91%) was negative in 2004.

Population of 1900-2004

Administrative division

Parishes administrative: the commune of Oviedo is divided into 30 parishes which, with the 1^er June 2005, are distributed as follows:

Art

the cathedral San Salvador, built end of the 13th century until half of the 16th century, on a temple raised at the 8th century and devoted to the “ Salveteur ” is the only Gothic cathedral devoted to the Saver. As a whole, it is of late Gothic style. Its single turn is most important of Europe (followed by that of the cathedral of Vienna);
the Cámara Santa of Oviedo (Holy Room): located in the cathedral, is reproduced on the Liste of the world heritage of UNESCO. It is one of the first samples of the style asturien. The Cámara Santa preserves the relics of the city like the Cruz of los Ángeles - Cross of the angels, which appears in the blazon of the province -, the Cross of the victory - which appears in the flag of the principality -, the Box of agates and Pañolón d' Oviedo - a crowned relic, similar to the shroud of Christ;
the cloister of the monastery of San Vicente, the 8th century: this convent was the first building built at the time of the foundation of Oviedo. In its cloister is installed the archaeological museum;
the church Santa María del Naranco (Préroman), with palate of the 9th century, fact part of the world heritage of UNESCO;
the church San Miguel de Lillo (préroman), with vault of the 10th century, fact part of the world heritage of UNESCO;

the basilica of San Julián of los Prados (préroman), belonged to the world heritage of UNESCO;
Foncalada, well of the 9th century: it is of the only well and the only civil construction of the pre-novel which is preserved; it belongs to the world heritage of UNESCO;
the vault of Balesquida, built at the 13th century, was rebuilt several time during the XVII^e, XIX^e, XX^e centuries; it is devoted to the Vierge hope ;
the building of the town hall, built with the XVII^e century, is a building of three stages whose central arc of the lower stage was the old main door in the city. The tower of the clock is particularly remarkable;
the convent and the church of Santo Domingo of Guzmán, of the XVI^e century is one of the constructions located out of the walls of the city;
Fontán, together to constructions which form a place with arcade of rectangular plan, goes back from the XVII^e and XVIII^e centuries. Built on a pond, it had to be rebuilt at the end of the XX^e century. It accommodates the Marché of Fontán which takes place Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays mornings;
the house of Llanes, with the one of the most beautiful frontages Baroque S of Asturies, built with the XVIII^e century;
the house of the senior Payarinos, building of style eclectic of the XX^e century, accommodates the Conservatoire music Eduardo Martínez Torner ;
the provincial old people's home, of the XVIII^e century has a frontage of style baroque completed by a large blazon and an octagonal vault. After the civil war he was rehabilitated and shelters currently the most prestigious hotel of Oviedo.
the head office of Caja de Ahoro de Asturias (Cajastur), Plaza of Escandalera, with the édificie of the Clock builds in 1960.

Culture

Source of inspiration for the town of Decayed in the novel Regenta of Leopoldo Went Clarín.
University of Oviedo.

Museums

archaeological Museum of Asturies: installed in the cloister of the convent of San Vicente, its funds includes/understands parts of the period Paléolithique, various collections Numismatique S and ethnographic S, two rooms devoted to the Romance period , two others with art pre-novel and another with the Gothic art. The cell of the Feijoo father is exposed there; Bilberry August 25th, 2005 with 19:29 (CEST) -->
Museum of the Art schools of Asturies: inaugurated in 1980 in the Palate of Velarde, this contiguous building with the back frontage of the precedent maintains a collection of works of artists asturiens like Carreño Mirador, Evaristo Valle, Nicanor Piñole, Vaquero Palacios, as well as other contemporary artists;
Museum diocesan of Oviedo: opened in 1990, it contains the archaeological remainders of the cathedral, the objects out of gold and silver, paintings, the ivory parts, the sculptures out of wood and the files of the cathedral;
Tabularium artis asturiensis: this private museum was founded in 1947 by Joaquin Pommeraies, chronicler official of Asturies. Its funds includes/understands parts of art asturien.

Theaters

Campoamor Theater: this building of neo-classic style of the XIX^e century is the seat of the handing-over of the price Prince of Asturies ;
philharmonic Theater;
Audience Prince Felipe ;
Palate of the congresses Princesa Letizia : this work of the architect Santiago Calatrava is in construction.

Foundations

Foundation Premios Príncipe de Asturias ;
Foundation Gustavo Bueno .

Twinning

Tourism

Local festivities

San Mateo (September 21st): festivities during which the city is filled of refreshment bars and during which are given concerts during ten days; the festivities finish with fireworks and a reconstitution of the procession of the Christ of the Chains; Bilberry August 25th, 2005 with 19:37 (CEST)-->
Tuesday of the field or Balesquida : festivity which takes place first Tuesday after the Pentecost, with pastoral meal during which one consumes culinos of Cidre, special p4at3es and, especially, the Preñau bollu . Popularly known like “Day of Bollu”;
Fair of the rise: festivities devoted to the fields.

Retail parks

The most important retail park of Oviedo is undoubtedly the street Uría, centers length whose the seats of the banks settled, of the insurance companies, as well as the department stores (El Corte Inglés, Zara, etc) and of the shops.

Parks and Gardens

The town of Oviedo is strewn with green areas:

San Francisco Field: located in full center of Oviedo, beside the street Uría, this wooded park belonged to the convent of San Francisco, which one can still see some remainders;
Campillín: this green area beside the church of Santo Domingo was created after the Guerre of Spain, the district having been completely shaven;
the park of winter: located on a strip of land wedged between the rail-car of León and the peripheral, it has many sports equipment;
the park of the Tomás purification is located at the foot of Assembles Naranco;
the park of the west is located near the new stage Carlos Tartiere and of Hermanos Llana;
the park of Santullanó is located beside the highway of Avilés to Gijón and at the neighborhoods of San Julian of the Meadows.

Gastronomy

All the October 19th, the tradition is to celebrate the disarmament - a festivity whose origin is rather polemical by eating cod with chick-peas. The other typical dishes are the edge gobernada and the hake with the cider. The day of San Mateo, owner of the city, one eats the Paxarines on the place of the cathedral. Among the desserts, let us note the carbayones , which bear the name of the inhabitants of the city. As in all Asturies, the Cidre is the drink queen.

Night life

Cider-houses: although one finds some in all the districts of the city, the cider-houses concentrate in the street Gascona and its neighborhoods. In addition to the restaurants, one practices there activities in connection with this market, like contests, the week of the Cider , etc Another zone including/understanding of many restaurants is Valentín Masip and the Place Pedro Miñor;
Pubs: the movida concentrates in Oviedo in the hurdy-gurdy city, in particular in the street My, Oscura, but also street San Isidoro and in Corrada del Obispo. The zone of Jovellanos, beside Gascona, is attended by a riper public;
Discotheques: several establishments are dispersed in the city.

Means of communication

Periodic: Voz de Asturias (the voice of Asturies),

Radio stations: Radio operator Asturias-Cadena SER, COPE Asturias, Onda Cero Asturias, Radio operator Vetusta ;

Television channels: Localia Asturias TV, TeleAsturias, Popular TV Asturias, Oviedo TV.

Known characters

Fernando Alonso was born there;
Indalecio Prieto ;
Letizia Ortiz, princess of Asturies following her marriage with Philippe de Bourbon;
Paulino Vicente
Carlos Tartiere;
Carmen Polo Martinez-Valdés (1902-1988), wife of Francisco Franco, former Spanish dictator.
Indalecio Prieto
Ramón Pérez de Ayala

Sports

female Team of football: Oviedo Moderno (Superliga);
male Team of Football representative: Real Oviedo ;
Other football clubs: Covadonga, Pumarín, ACF;
Hockey: Esfer Oviedo (OK Liga);
Basketball: Domo Oviedo (Liga EBA).

External bonds

Town hall of Oviedo
University of Oviedo
Cathedral of tourist Oviedo
Gate
Opera of Oviedo
Fundación Príncipe de Asturias
Federación Asturiana de Concejos

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