Cangas de Onís is part of a charming Asturian ‘concejo' or parish. This is one of the most popular destinations of the whole Spanish autonomous community, a perfect place to do tourism as it is very close to other important towns such as Ribadesella, Llanes, or the province of León in the south.
Here you will find the greenest landscapes, where nature is combined with some of the most important elements of its historical heritage.
It is also located between two rivers; the river Sella and the river Güena, which add to this great landscape.
It is for all these things that the tourism in this area has become one of the main economic activities, especially the rural kind, which allows visitors to discover the most hidden and secret spots of this ‘concejo’, completely surrounded by nature. Together with agriculture and cattle raising, rural tourism is one of the pillars of the pillars that sustain the lifestyle of this area.
This is a place full of history, and with plenty of unique and curious things to discover. Apart from having been the capital of the old Kingdom of Asturias, in its coat of arms appears a cross that symbolizes the Christian victory at the Battle of Covadonga.
And we can also translate for you, from Latin, the words decorate its coat of arms: “La más pequeña de las ciudades, la más grande de las capitales” (The smallest of cities, the biggest of capitals).
If you would like to enjoy of the tourism in this area, you mustn’t forget to check out some of the most popular destinations in this region. Of the more rural parts of it, we recommend you visit the National Park of Picos de Europa, where you can also visit the sanctuary of Covadonga, where a basilica and a cave that played an important role at the beginning of the Spanish, Christian Reconquest are also hiding. You will be able to explore both of them and many other things that are waiting for you in this 2,000 ha of extension.
Amongst the places and buildings representative of its historical heritage, we recommend you visit the church of Santa Cruz, inside of which you will find a dolmen that is considered a Historic-Artistic Monument, a special label that has also been awarded to the Roman bridge where the Cruz de la Victoria is hanging, and which offers some of the most iconic views of Cangas de Onís.
Other important religious monuments include Iglesia de Arriba, and the one of Santa Eulalia de Abamia, where the Visigoth king Pelagius of Asturias and his wife are buried.
To make the most of your experience, we recommend you pay attention to the following lines since it is always best to know a bit about the climate of this region, before you decide when you would like to come to visit this place.
You Will find here a mild and temperate climate, where the maximum temperatures registered during summer are of about 20ºC, in August, whereas the lowest ones are reached in January.
Rainfall and the temperatures of this region are determined by its geographical location, which is influenced by the presence of the National Park of Picos de Europa, resulting in very frequent fog formations most of the year, due to the process of condensation.
If there is something that you will surely be able to enjoy of in this place, that is its gastronomy, world-wide famous thanks to the quality and great flavor of its local products.
We must let you know that everything here is treated with utmost care and respect, and the local products are no exception, as they are an essential element of the local cuisine. You will be able to witness this in any of the farmer’s markets that are held every Sunday, where you will be able to buy some of the local products of the best quality.
Amongst the most popular traditional recipes, we recommend you try the ‘fabada’ and ‘pote asturiano’, which are regional stews that use beans and ‘chorizo’ as their main ingredients, together with some vegetables.
We also recommend you try the local cheese, such as Gamoneu, which is a very popular variety from this area.
Amongts the traditional desserts, you will find ‘arroz con leche’, or ‘botijo asturiano’, as well as the so famous Peña Santa ice cream.
And, to drink, nothing like a nice glass of ‘sidra’ to complete an ideal banquet with the best and most delicious products from Asturias.
There are many ways one can reach Cangas de Onís. If you are traveling by car, for example, you can choose to do so using the A8 motorway, or the Carretera del Sella, the N-625.
Travelling by bus is also an option, as it also is doing so in long or mid-distance train, and even by plane since Asturias Airport is not very far from Cangas de Onís.
