Oviedo has to be a little piece of paradise on earth. It is green, hilly, with beautiful blue skies. First we visited Santa María de Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo. These are amazing examples of pre-Romanesque buildings.
Santa María de Naranco was built in 842 as a royal palace to King Ramiro I of Asturias. It was part of a large complex of buildings that included San Miguel de Lillo. It sits high above the valley where Oviedo was built. Later the palace was converted into a church.
View for Santa María de Naranco
A few hundred yards up the hill is San Miguel de Lillo. The interior is amazing (photos weren't allowed). It still has some of the original mural work on the interior.
When we arrived in Ovieda to visit the Cathedral we encountered a food festival in the plaza. The vendors were selling local cheeses (that are amazing) and cured meats (e.g., sausages).
From Oviedo we traveled to Cangas de Onis where there is this beautiful Roman bridge.
It was then on to Covadonga. Gaylamarie Rosenberg had suggested that we go to these two lakes. I thought, "Why not?" and everyone else seemed to be onboard. Little did I know that we were entering the Picos de Europa, a high mountain range. The trip there was breathtaking but our arrival goest without words. I was overwhelmed by the beauty and serenity. Here are pics:
You can see that we are above the top of the cloud bank!
We returned to Covadonga (sadly!).
Covadonga plays a significant role in the history of Spain. According to legend the king, Pelayo, confronted the Moors here and defeated them (718-722) beginning what what would be known as the Reconquest of the Peninsula. As the story goes, Pelayo hears a voice calling him from a cave. When he enters he confront an image of the Virgin Mary that sets him on his heroic course and promises him victory in the name of Christianity. Below is the sacred Grotto:
There isn't much in Covadonga except the grotto, hotels and a new-Romanesque church that offers a striking pose on the top of a hill.
More to come!
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