Page 113 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

ASTURIAS AND C ANT ABRIA  111

9 Ribadesella
Asturias. * 5,800. £ @ n Paseo
Princesa Letizia, 985 86 00 38. ( Wed.
_ Descent of the Río Sella (first Sat
of Aug). ∑ ribadesella.es
This enchanting little seaside town
bestrides a broad estuary. On one
side is the lively old seaport full of
tapas bars below a clifftop church.
Across the estuary is a holiday
resort. A multicoloured flotilla of
kay aks arrives here from Arriondas
(upstream) in an international
regatta that is held every year
on the first Saturday in August.
On the edge of town is the
Cueva de Tito Bustillo. This cave
is rich in stalactites but is best
known for its many pre historic
drawings, which were discovered
in 1968, some dating from around
18,000 BC. These include red
and black pictures of stags and
horses. To protect the paintings,
only 360 visitors are allowed in
per day; tickets are given out
from 10am every day and should
Church overlooking the sea at Ribadesella be booked in advance. There is
a museum on the site.
north. Santa María del Naranco of Pre-Romanesque art. Its
has a large barrel-vaulted hall ceiling has vivid Asturian T Cueva de Tito Bustillo
on the main floor and arcaded frescoes, and by the portal are Ribadesella. Tel 985 18 58 60.
galleries at either end. Some of recesses where pilgrims slept. Open Mar–Oct: Wed–Sun (free Wed).
the intricate reliefs on the door The church in the Monasterio
jambs of the nearby San Miguel de Santa María next door is
de Lillo show acrobats and 13th-century Cistercian, with 0 Cangas de Onís
animal tamers in a circus. cloisters from the 16th century.
The early 9th-century church Asturias. * 6,300. @ n Avenida
of San Julián de los Prados Environs Covadonga 1, 985 84 80 05. ( Sun.
_ San Antonio (13 Jun), Cheese Festival
stands on the road leading To the north, the resort town (12 Oct). ∑ cangasdeonis.com
northeast out of Oviedo. The of Villaviciosa lies amid apple
largest of Spain’s surviving orchards. In nearby Amandi, Cangas de Onís, one of the
Pre-Romanesque churches, the hilltop Iglesia de San Juan gateways to the Picos de Europa
it is noted for the frescoes has a 13th-century portal and (see pp112–13), is where Pelayo,
which cover all of its interior. delicate carvings and friezes. the 8th-century Visigothic
nobleman and hero of the
E Museo Arqueológico Reconquest, set up his court.
Calle San Vicente 3. Tel 985 20 89 77. The town has a Romanesque
Open Wed–Sun. 7 bridge and the 8th-century
E Museo de Bellas Artes chapel of Santa Cruz.
Calle Santa Ana 1. Tel 985 21 30 61.
Open Tue–Sun. 7 Environs
About 3 km (2 miles) east in
Cardes is the Cueva del Buxu,
8 Valdediós which has engravings and rock-
drawings over 10,000 years old.
Asturias. * 150. n Monasterio de
Santa María, 985 89 23 24. Monastery Only 25 visitors are allowed
Open 11–11:45am & 1–1:45pm Tue, daily, and no visitors under 7.
11am–1pm & 4:30–6:30pm Wed–Sun.
T Cueva del Buxu
Set alone in a field near this Tel 608 17 54 67 (mobile). 8 Wed–
hamlet, the tiny 9th-century Iglesia de San Salvador de Valdediós in its Sun. & reservations essential; call
Iglesia de San Salvador is a jewel idyllic setting 3–5pm Wed–Sun (free Wed).

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