Avilés

Avilés  is one of Asturias larger cities. This commercial city is nowadays a major iron and steel centre, and many of this industry can be found on the outskirts of Avilés.
The city has a long  seafaring tradition that goes as far back as medieval times, and up until today, the fish market auctions almost 70% of the fish caught in Asturias. 

But it is the historic quarter of Avilés that attracts visitors. With its stunning palaces, churches, arcaded houses,... Avilés is often overlooked by tourists but is so worth a visit. The old historic quarter is one of the best preserved ones in Northern Spain with many stunning buildings dotted along the pedestrianized streets.

In 1955, the old town was declared a Historic-Artistic site due to the stunning architecture , the interesting shape of the arcades,...
Let's have a look at some of the interesting places you should definitely visit during your visit:

Plaza de Espana El Parche

Plaza de Espana El Parche is the historic center of Avilés. This main square, which dates back to the 17th century, came into existence when the walled town of Avilés started outgrowing the walls due to demographic pressure. During that period, the square was opened up with the construction of  three important buildings:  the Municipal palace or city hall, the Llano Ponte Palace and the Ferrera palace.

Some of Aviles main streets start from the square which nowadays is used for local celebrations such as feasts and processions, but also for relaxing and people watching from one of the many restaurants or cafes. 


Fuente de los Canos de San Fransisco

This unusual but historically significant fountain is located in Plaza Carbayo nearby the church of Saint Nicholas of Bari.
The fountain has a front panel with six spouts of human heads from which water flows into a rectangular basin. There are three shields above the heads, two from Avilés with the royal coat of arms in the centre.

Built in the 16th century, this public fountain provided domestic water to the local inhabitants, but over time transformed into a social hub where people would gather while washing clothes or collecting water.

Palacio of Valdecarzana:

The palace with its gothic style was built in the 14th and 15th centuries by a wealthy merchant as a private residence. It's the oldest civil building in Asturias and was in 1997 rehabilitated so that it could be used as the Municipal Archive of Avilés. Nowadays, the building is also used for many activities like literary presentations, concerts, film screenings,... 

Galiana street:

Calle Galiana is one of Avilés most popular streets which stands out with its popular architecture of porticoed houses. Underneath the arcades, you can see two types of floor, one paved for animals and one with smooth paving slabs for people. 
Nowadays, you can enjoy a refreshing drink on one of the many terraces underneath the houses.
An interesting thing is that between house number 40 and 44, you can see some holes in the ceiling. These served as a peepholes so that occupants could see who was at the door.

Iglesia de San Nicholas de Bari:

The church, which dates back to the 13th century, was built as part of the monastery of the order of San Fransisco. Where it was built outside the walls of the walled citadel, there have been numerous modifications over the centuries making the building into what it is today.

Plaza del Carbayedo:

This area was once a wooded area, and nowadays it is still a green square with large trees providing shelter from the Asturian sunshine. Until the mid 20th century, it was used as a cattle fair. The animal trough can still be seen as it was transformed into a fountain.
Also present is a barn (Horreo) , which is a typical agricultural structure you find in Asturias. The reason these barns are raised from the ground is to preserve the stored food by protecting it from rodents and humidity. 
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Museum of Urban History of Avilés:

To learn more about Avilés, head to the museum of urban History where you can admire a large exhibition about the history of the city.
Spread across three floors, it shows the evolution of Avilés since prehistoric time.

Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Center:

Next to the estuary, you will find the well-known Niemeyer Centre, a cultural centre designed by the Brazilian Óscar Niemeyer that takes centre stage in the city’s landscape due to the contrast of its modern architecture. The site comprises several buildings including an auditorium, an observatory tower, an exhibition hall, a cinema, and a restaurant.


So, when you find yourself with a couple of hours spare in Asturias, we highly recommend visiting this stunning city.