Currents
April 2018
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Julian de los Prados, with its notable frescoes, is the
best preserved. Also important are: The Cathedral
of San Salvador (1388); the Cámara Santa de
Oviedo (802), with its religious artifacts; Santa Maria
del Naranco Hall (9th Century); and the House of the
Llanes (18th Century), having Asturias’ most signifi-
cant Baroque façade. Oviedo’s Fine Arts Museum
comprises two palaces. UNESCO World Heritage
Sites abound.
Oviedo, an inland town, owes its mild climate to
the nearby Bay of Biscay, with its magnificent coast-
line [see photo]. For aficionados of local cuisine,
Oviedo is a delight, having several of Spain’s finest
restaurants. Try fabado, a bean stew, or the bak-
eries’ almond pastries. Special products of Asturias
are worth sampling. Asturias, Spain’s dairy center,
produces more than 40 cheeses, including two
famous blue cheeses, Cabrales and Gamonedo.
Asturias’ 250 varieties of apples provide superior
ciders.
Oviedo is accessible, only 4 ½ hours from
Madrid’s Chamartin station, by direct train, for less
than $70 USD, or by plane, one
hour from Madrid. Driving is
easy, too. Day trips to nearby
Gijón or Avíles, both cities of dis-
tinctive architecture, are only 15
miles from Oviedo.
Oviedo, home to 220,000 citi-
zens, serves up small-town hospi-
tality in a less-often-visited part of
Spain.
Start packing. The world is
waiting to meet you.
We Support Our Troops
[The text and photograph rep-
resent the actual experience of
the writer.]
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