A guide to Asturias in nothern Spain

Picos de Europa National Park ("Peaks of Europe)" is a magnet for nature lovers. With its snowy mountaintops and green valleys, this is one of the very few places in Spain or in Western Europe where brown bears, lynx and wolves still prowl. Hikers venturing into the park should remember to bring not just their cameras, but also their binoculars, so as to get a good look at these wild predators without coming too close. The park is also home to one of Europe's largest populations of eagles, as well as a diverse population of butterflies.

Asturian cuisine has its own special gifts to offer. The regional dish is fabada asturiana, a stew made with white beans, pork shoulder, different kinds of sausages and seasoned with saffron. Hikers in Picos de Europa will find the local shepherds make a very piquant variety of blue cheeses. The lower valleys produce yet more cow and sheep's milk cheeses, making Asturias one of the most famous cheese-producing regions in Spain. Yet with its long coastline, Asturias is best-known for its seafood, with outstanding fresh squid, crab, shrimp, sea bass and wild salmon serving as the basis for a wide and varied menu. The region's climate is also ideal for the production of apples, which is made into a fine, but very dry apple cider.

For history buffs and lovers of fine, old architecture, the Asturian capital of Oviedo has a pair of true gems. Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo, a church and palace respectively, date back to the days when Austrias was a Christian enclave amid a Muslim sea. The pair represent one of the best-preserved sets of pre-romanesque architecture still standing in Europe. It is also home to Cathedral of San Salvador, a fine example of a Spanish Gothic cathedral.

Oviedo might be the capital of Asturias, but the biggest city in the region is Gijon. Situated on the coast, it is the seat of Asturian seafood, as well as the centre for Asturian cider production. Gijon is also at the centre of a string of beaches that include many of the best in northwestern Spain. Roughly 20 km south of Gijon are several ski resorts, such as Valgrande-Pajares. That combination of beaches and ski slopes makes the city of Gijon and its hinterland a year-round resort destination.

The main regional airport is Asturias International Airport (OVD) in Oviedo, with direct flights to Stansted operated by Easy Jet, as well as connections from other cities in Spain and Europe. The port at Gijon is the main sea link for Asturias, and cruise ships do make calls there. The region's cities are also well connected to other points in Spain by rail and bus.