The white village of the Asturian Costa Verde is one of the best places in this coastal area, where rural tourism has become one of its greatest charms.
Located in the municipality of Valdes, and also being the regions capital, Laurca has the possibility of enjoying both mountain landscapes and splendid beaches.
You are first taken into the lush green mountainous landscapes on the routes of Hoces del Esva or Llugarinos and then to the dunes, estuaries and cliffs which make up the coastal landscape of the beaches Laurca, Las Salinas, Tourán and Barayo.
But do you know anything about its origins? This area has been inhabited for thousands of years, as the Restiello Dolmen testifies, but it was in the Middle Ages when it became one of the most important fishing towns in the region.
It is this time period that has left much of its heritage, such as its neighbourhoods of medieval origin: the Barrio del Cambral or the Pescadería. These neighbourhoods of narrowing winding streets and traditional white buildings, hence why it is known as the white village, are a delightful tour for a visitor.
Among its architectural heritage we must highlight the Palace of the Marqués de Ferrera, a beautiful noble construction dating back to the 13th century that is cataloged as an Asset of Cultural Interest and Historic-Artistic Monument. Also the stately House of the Marquis of Gamoneda, which houses the Severo Museum Ochoa, since Luarca is the birthplace of this famous figure of Spanish medicine.
The Table of the Mareantes is another prominent place, since it was used as a meeting point in medieval times and, later, for the fishermen of the town.
The Fonte Baixa Gardens, the second largest private botanical garden in our geography, is another of its charms, from where we can see a beautiful image of Luarca from its viewpoint. Next to the Luarca Lighthouse, we find the Hermitage of Our Lady of La Blanca, which is also known as the Chapel of the Watchtower.
After a tour of the beautiful streets of Luarca you will most likely be feeling peckish, so let’s see what’s dishes are on offer.
The traditional cuisine is the prominent player in its gastronomy, with fish and seafood stews, the typical Asturian fabada, the cabbage stew and the eel pie being popular.
Meats and local products are also part of the diet, while frixuelos, rice pudding or cottage cheese will be sweetening your palate for dessert.
As for its festivities, a large part of them are usually celebrated in summer, mainly in the month of August, giving rise to the festivities in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary on the 15th , while those of San Timoteo begin on the 21st and end with a beautiful pilgrimage.
You already know a large part of the charms of Luarca, but have you no idea what its population lives on? For the most part, it is still a town linked to fishing, since the fishermen's catches arrive at the fish market every day, where a large part is usually taken by the hospitality sector. Along with this sector, tourism has been one of the economic pillars of the region in recent decades, and, more specifically its rural tourism.
