Sculptures of Oviedo
Oviedo is a nice Spanish university city, modern despite its remote location, actually in the provinces. They are distinguished by the number of sculptures that can be seen in it - a total of 107.
Compared to other Spanish resorts, Oviedo is quiet and small. The more that in the old part of the city, casco viejo, there is no car traffic. Half of the pedestrianized streets run in this area and this is where life is most intense.
If we visit Oviedo on Thursday, Saturday or Sunday, sooner or later our legs will lead us to Plaza del Fontán . Under this name, there is a square that serves as a marketplace these days. It was created on the site of a small, drained lake. It is surrounded by arcades, and apart from stalls, it also consists of pavilions where we can buy traditional black faience and local specialties. These include sidra apple pie and cabrales - blue-veined cheese with a very distinctive flavor and aroma.
In the shadow of the statue of Jesus
Like over Rio de Janeiro, a great statue of Christ rises above Oviedo. The figure seems to be blessing the area by raising his hands at the top of Monte Naranco . It is worth climbing this hill, because standing at the foot of the statue, you can admire the beautiful view of the coast, city and mountains.
Jesus is a sculpture most associated with Oviedo - not only because of its size. In the city itself, we will see, among others, the figure of the patron saint, Santa Eulalia de Mérida and San Mateo, whose holiday is celebrated the most (September 9-25). On the Plaza del Fontán there are vendors carved in stone, there is also a milkwoman and el viajero, a traveler with trunks. A more original sculpture is the figure of Woody Allen, who was erected in Oviedo in 2003, as well as an older, because it comes from 1972, figure of Salvador Dali standing straddling on a dolphin. Walking through the streets, you can sometimes get the impression that a large part of the city's population has been magically immobilized to spend eternity here, enchanted in stone.
Temples of Oviedo
Apart from the silent figures, tourists pay a lot of attention to the beautiful sacred churches, which are abundant in the city. The symbol of Oviedo is the Cathedral of San Salvador , located in Plaza de Alfonso II, the main square of casco viejo. It was built as a royal palace, but was quickly renamed a church, then a basilica, and finally a cathedral. It combines several styles: Radiant Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque modifications, and a Romanesque tower.
On the outskirts of the mountain, there are several old churches known as Iglesias Prerrománicas de Monte Naranco . They are a testimony to the birth of a new Christian state. They were created as a link between the departing times of Visigothic art and its successor, the Romanesque style. Inside the temples, we can see rich frescoes, barrel vaults and raised arches slenderizing the structure.
Santa Maria del Naranco was founded in the 9th century as a royal summer residence. The bathroom and the ballroom have survived to this day. 200 years later, the building turned into a church, which does not change the fact that it is the oldest preserved palace in the world, existing for 1,200 years. Along with the adjacent church of San Miguel de Lillo, where the Lignum Crucis (Tree of the Cross) was stored for centuries, it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
There are two more churches on the slope: Santa Cristina de Lena and San Julián de los Prados, (Santullano), in which it is worth paying attention to interesting frescoes.
Camping near Oviedo
The richness and weirdness of Oviedo's temples can be overwhelming if we view too many of them at once. It is best to plan your sightseeing in installments, and to relax, go to the coast to be able to breathe the sea breeze. About 20 km north of the city is Camping Perlora . For a place for a motorhome, we will pay 5.85 euros, while the price for an adult is 5.30 euros.
Who knows, maybe we dream of walking through the streets of Oviedo, and the sculptures, silent during the day, will want to exchange a few words with us?
A writer by profession, a passion of a cat. One day he will see what is behind the Urals - good to Vladivostok. So far, when he can, he enjoys the sun of the countries of southern Europe. And it's also fun;)
