Asturias

The Principality of Asturias (Asturian: Asturies) is a province and an autonomous community of Spain on the north coast facing the Cantabric Sea (Spanish: Golfo de Vizcaya or Mar Cantábrico).

The capital is Oviedo; Asturias was formerly called the province of Oviedo. Other noteworthy cities are the major seaport Gijón and the industrial city of Avilés. Other towns include Cangas de Onís, Cangas del Narcea, Grado (also known as Grao), Langreo, Mieres, Villaviciosa, and Llanes. See also List of municipalities in Asturias, Comarcas of Asturias.

The autonomous community is bordered on the east by Cantabria, on the south by Castile-Leon (Castilla y León, province of León), on the west by Galicia (province of Lugo), and on the north by the Cantabric Sea.

At one point, Asturias was one of the last remnants of Christian Spain; for this reason, the heir to the Spanish throne automatically takes the title of Prince of Asturias, much as the heir to the British throne is the Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay.

Asturias shares the Parque Nacional Picos de Europa Biosphere Reserve (in the Picos de Europa mountain range) with Cantabria and with the province of León. Also have another Biosphere Reserves: Muniellos, Somiedo, Redes

Contents

1 Economy of Asturias

Economy of Asturias

The traditional resource of Asturias was mountain farming. The mountain pastures feed milk cows. The mountains also held rich coal mines; however, lately Asturian coal can't compete with off-EU imports and is maintained by tariffs and subventions. The main mining company is the state-run Hunosa. There was also a steel industry, grouped around the state-run Ensidesa. The difficulties to compete with foreign imports led to a troubled reconvertion process, heavily protested with strikes.

Gastronomy

Asturias is known for its fine beef, game and seafood, but its most famous dish is Fabada Asturiana, a stew made with large white beans (fabes), shoulder of pork (lacón), black sausage (morcilla), spicy sausage (chorizo) and saffron (azafrán).

The apple trees sustain the production of alcoholic cider, traditionally poured standing, with the bottle a metre above the glass, to oxygenate the brew. Asturian cheeses, especially Cabrales cheese, are also famous, the latter not just for its pungent odour. Salmon swim up Asturian rivers; the first fish of the season is called campanu (from campana, a bell tolled to signal the catch) and reaches a high price.

History

After the fading of the Kingdom of Asturias, the region survived as a marginal territory within the boundaries of Spain, altough it provided the court with high-rank aristocrats and played a remarkable role during the colonization of America.

During the 18th Century, Asturias became one of the main sites of the Spanish Enlightement. The reknowned thinker Benito de Feijoo settled his residence in the Benedictine Monastery of San Vicente (Oviedo). The late Spanish pioneer Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos is born in the sea-side town of Gijón.

The Industrial Revolution broke into Asturias with the discoverement and explotation of coal and iron sources. Neverthless, the economical prosperity bought by the industry did not avoid the mass migration to America. Some of those wanderers who crossed the ocean suceeded overseas and could return home with a brand-new richness. They were called 'indianos' and erected massive mansions.

In 1934, the worker movements fought the government of the Second Spanish Republic in the so-called Revolution of Asturias. Troops led by Francisco Franco were brought from the North African colonies to suffocate the rebellion.

External links

Government of Asturias (in Spanish)

Autonomous Communities of Spain
Andalusia \| Aragon \| Asturias \| Balearic Islands \| Basque Country \| Canary Islands \| Cantabria \| Castile-La Mancha \| Castile-Leon \| Catalonia \| Extremadura \| Galicia \| La Rioja \| Madrid \| Murcia \| Navarre \| Valencia \| Ceuta \| Melilla \| Plaza de soberanía

Municipalities of Asturias

ast:Asturies ca:Astúries de:Asturien es:Principado de Asturias eo:Asturio fr:Asturies it:Asturie nl:Asturië ja:アストゥリアス州