View source for Asturias

{{Short description|Autonomous community and province of Spain}}
{{Other uses}}
{{distinguish|Austria}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Asturias
| official_name      = {{native name|es|Principado de Asturias}}<br /> {{native name|ast|Principáu d'Asturies}}<br />''Principao d'Asturias'' {{nobold|([[Galician–Asturian|Galician]])}}
| native_name        = {{native name|ast|Asturies}}
| settlement_type    = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Autonomous community]] and [[Provinces of Spain|province]]
| image_flag         = Flag of Asturias.svg
| flag_size          = 125px
| flag_alt           = Flag of Asturias
| image_shield       = Coat of Arms of Asturias.svg
| shield_size        = 100x100px
| shield_alt         = Coat-of-arms of Asturias
| anthem             = {{native name|es|[[Asturias, patria querida]]}} / {{native name|ast|[[Asturias, patria querida|Asturies, patria querida]]}}<br/>{{smaller|"Asturias, beloved homeland"}}<br/> <div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">[[File:Himnoasturias 4 julio 2010.ogg|center]]</div>
| motto              = ''Hoc signo tuetur pius, Hoc signo vincitur inimicus''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.asturias.es/Asturias/descargas/imagen_institucional/ley_escudo.pdf |title=BOLETÍN Oficial del Principado de Asturias y de la Provincia |page=1479 |trans-title=Official Bulletin of the Principality of Asturias and the Province |language=es |access-date=2020-11-02 |archive-date=2020-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117105201/https://www.asturias.es/Asturias/descargas/imagen_institucional/ley_escudo.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><br />("By this sign is the pious safeguarded. By this sign is the enemy conquered."){{force singular}}
| image_map          = File:Asturias in Spain (plus Canarias).svg
| map_alt            = Map of Asturias in Spain
| map_caption        = Location of Asturias (red) within Spain
| coordinates        = {{coord|43|21|41|N|5|50|52|W|region:ES-O_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[Spain]]
| seat_type          = [[Capital (political)|Capital]]<br />Largest city
| seat               = [[Oviedo]]<br />[[Gijón]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Autonomous community]]
| established_title  = Formation
| established_date   = 722 ([[Kingdom of Asturias]])<br />1230 (Comarca of the Asturias of Oviedo)<br />1833 (Province of Oviedo)<br />1982 (Autonomous Community)
| established_title1 = [[Statute of Autonomy of the Principality of Asturias|Statute of Autonomy]]
| established_date1  = 1981
| government_type    = [[Devolution|Devolved government]] in a [[constitutional monarchy]]
| governing_body     = [[Government of the Principality of Asturias]]
| leader_party       = [[Asturian Socialist Federation|FSA–PSOE]]
| leader_title       = [[President of the Principality of Asturias|President]]
| leader_name        = [[Adrián Barbón]]
| leader_title1      = Legislature
| leader_name1       = [[General Junta of the Principality of Asturias]]
| leader_title2      = [[Congress of Deputies (Spain)|Congress of Deputies]]
| leader_name2       = 7 Deputies (of 350)
| leader_title3      = [[Senate of Spain|Senate]]
| leader_name3       = 6 Senators (of 265)
| area_rank          = [[Ranked lists of Spanish autonomous communities|10th in Spain]] (2.1%)
| area_note          = <ref name="area">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.es/web/ane-datos-geograficos/-/datos-geograficos/datosPoblacion?tipoBusqueda=provincias|title=Datos geográficos y toponimia|publisher=[[Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Spain)|IGN]]|language=es}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 10604
| population_total   = 1009599
| population_footnotes = <ref name=population>{{cite web|url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=67988|title=Annual population census 2021-2024|publisher=[[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|INE]]}}</ref>
| population_as_of   = 2024
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank    = [[Ranked lists of Spanish autonomous communities|14th in Spain]] (2.1%)
| population_demonym = [[Asturian people|Asturian]]<br />''asturiano, -na'' ([[Spanish language|es]], [[Galician-Asturian|gl]])<br/>''asturianu, -na'' ([[Asturian language|ast]])
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://ine.es/prensa/cre_2022.pdf |title=Contabilidad Regional de España |website=www.ine.es |access-date=2024-01-07 |archive-date=2023-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218104341/https://www.ine.es/prensa/cre_2022.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = €28.325 billion (2023)
| demographics2_title2 = Per capita
| demographics2_info2 = €28,130 (2023)
| area_code          = +34 985
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in Spain|Area code]]
| iso_code           = ES-AS (autonomous community)<br/>ES-O (province)
| timezone           = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset         = +1
| postal_code_type   = [[ISO 3166 code]]
| postal_code        = 
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2025)
| blank_info_sec1    = 0.914<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/table/shdi/ESP/?levels=1+4&years=2022&interpolation=0&extrapolation=0|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2025-01-28}}</ref><br/>{{color|darkgreen|very high}} · [[List of Spanish autonomous communities by Human Development Index|8th]]
| blank1_name        = [[Language]]s
| blank1_info        = [[Asturian language|Asturian]], [[Galician-Asturian|Galician]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| blank2_name        = [[Patron saint]]
| blank2_info        = [[Our Lady of Covadonga]]
| website            = {{URL|http://www.asturias.es/|asturias.es}}
| module             = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |zoom=7 |height=300 |width= | stroke-width=1 |coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
}}
'''Asturias''' ({{IPAc-en|æ|ˈ|s|t|ʊər|i|ə|s|,_|ə|-|}};<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/asturias |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116170136/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/asturias |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 16, 2017 |title=Asturias - Definition of Asturias in English by Oxford Dictionaries |website=Oxford Dictionaries - English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Asturias |title=Definition of ASTURIAS |website=www.merriam-webster.com |access-date=2017-01-15 |archive-date=2018-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153403/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Asturias |url-status=live }}</ref> {{IPA|es|asˈtuɾjas|lang}}; {{langx|ast|Asturies}} {{IPA|ast|asˈtuɾjes; -ɾjɪs|}}) officially the '''Principality of Asturias''',<ref>({{langx|es|Principado de Asturias}}<!-- {{IPA|es|pɾinθiˈpaðo ðe asˈtuɾjas|}} -->; {{langx|ast|Principáu d'Asturies}}<!-- {{IPA|ast|pɾinθiˈpaw ðasˈtuɾjes|}} -->; [[Galician–Asturian]]: ''Principao d'Asturias'')</ref> is an [[autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous community]] in northwest [[Spain]].
It is coextensive with the [[provinces of Spain|province]] of Asturias and contains some of the territory that was part of the larger [[Kingdom of Asturias]] in the [[Middle Ages]]. Divided into eight [[Comarcas of Asturias|''comarcas'']] (counties), the autonomous community of Asturias is bordered by [[Cantabria]] to the east, by [[Province of León|León]] ([[Castile and León]]) to the south, by [[Province of Lugo|Lugo]] ([[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]]) to the west, and by the [[Cantabrian Sea]] to the north.

Asturias is situated in a mountainous setting with vast greenery and lush vegetation, making it part of [[Green Spain]]. The region has a [[oceanic climate|maritime climate]]. It receives plenty of annual rainfall and little sunshine by Spanish standards and has very moderate seasons, most often averaging in the lower 20s [[Celsius]]. Heat waves are rare due to mountains blocking southerly winds. Winters are very mild for the latitude, especially near sea level.

The most important cities are the communal capital, [[Oviedo]], the seaport and largest city [[Gijón]], and the industrial town of [[Avilés]]. Other [[List of municipalities in Asturias|municipalities in Asturias]] include [[Cangas de Onís]], [[Cangas del Narcea]], [[Gozón]], [[Grado, Asturias|Grado]], [[Langreo]], [[Llanera, Asturias|Llanera]], [[Laviana]], [[Lena, Asturias|Lena]], [[Llanes]], [[Mieres]], [[Siero]], [[Valdés, Asturias|Valdés]], [[Vegadeo]] and [[Villaviciosa, Asturias|Villaviciosa]] (''see also [[List of municipalities in Asturias|List of municipalities]] and [[Comarcas of Asturias|comarcas in Asturias]]'').

==History==
[[File:Termes romanes de Gijón 03.JPG|upright|thumbnail|left|Roman thermae in Gijón]]
[[File:Processional Cross MET DT154.jpg|upright|thumbnail|left|Processional Cross, ca. 1150–75, it comes from a 12th-century church fifty miles east of Oviedo. [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464023 |title=Processional Cross, Spanish, ca. 1150–75 |website=[[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] website |access-date=2023-12-06 |archive-date=2023-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602022843/https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464023 |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
{{Main|History of Asturias}}
{{See also|Province of Oviedo|Asturian architecture}}
<!-- Note: parts of this section have been translated from the Spanish version of this page, at: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principado_de_Asturias -->

Asturias was inhabited first by ''[[Homo erectus]]'', then by [[Neanderthals]]. Since the [[Lower Paleolithic]] era, and during the [[Upper Paleolithic]], Asturias was characterized by cave paintings in the eastern part of the area.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-30 |title=Back to the Prehistory- Tito Bustillo World Heritage Site & Dinosaur Coast |url=https://intoasturias.com/trip/prehistory-in-asturias/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=intoAsturias |language=en-US}}</ref> In the [[Mesolithic]] period, a native culture developed, that of the ''Asturiense'', and later, with the introduction of the [[Bronze Age]], [[megalith]]s and [[tumulus|tumuli]] were constructed. In the [[Iron Age]], the territory came under the cultural influence of the [[Celts]]; the local Celtic peoples, known as the [[Astures|Astur]]es, were composed of tribes such as the ''Luggones'', the ''Pesicos'', and others, who populated the entire area with ''[[Castro culture|castros]]'' (fortified hill towns). Today the [[Astures|Astur]] Celtic influence persists in [[toponym|place names]], such as those of rivers and mountains.<ref>"Prehistoric Spain" – Instituto de Estudios sobre el Mundo Antiguo</ref>

[[File:Iglesia de Santa María del Naranco.jpg|thumbnail|right|Santa María del Naranco, ancient palace of Asturian kings, 842 AD. Many churches in Asturias are among the [[List of oldest church buildings#Europe|oldest churches of Europe, dating to the Early Middle Ages]].]]
With the conquest of Asturias by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] under [[Augustus]] (29–19 BC), the region entered into recorded history. The Astures were subdued by the Romans, but were never fully conquered. After several centuries without foreign presence, they enjoyed a brief revival during the Germanic invasions of the late 4th century AD, resisting [[Suebi]] and [[Visigoths|Visigoth]] raids throughout the 5th century AD, ending with the [[Moorish invasion of Spain]]. However, as it had been for the Romans and Visigoths, the Moors did not find mountainous territory easy to conquer, and the lands along Spain's northern coast never became part of [[Al-Andalus|Islamic Spain]]. With the beginning of the Moorish conquest in the 8th century, this region became a refuge for Christian nobles, and in 722, a ''de facto'' independent kingdom was established, the ''[[Kingdom of Asturias|Regnum Asturorum]]'', which was to become the cradle of the incipient ''[[Reconquista]]'' (Reconquest).<ref>A.H.M. Jones (1960). ''The Cities of the Eastern Roman Provinces''. Oxford University Press</ref>

In the 10th century, the Kingdom of Asturias gave way to the [[Kingdom of León]], and during the [[Middle Ages]] the geographic isolation of the territory made historical references scarce. Through the rebellion of Prince Henry (the later [[Henry II of Castile]]) in the 14th century, the Principality of Asturias was established. The most famous proponents of independence were Gonzalo Peláez and [[Queen Urraca]], who, while achieving significant victories, were ultimately defeated by [[Crown of Castile|Castilian]] troops. After its integration into the [[Kingdom of Spain]], Asturias provided the Spanish court with high-ranking aristocrats and played an important role in the colonisation of America. Since 1388, the heir to the Castilian (later Spanish) throne has been styled [[Prince of Asturias|Prince (or Princess) of Asturias]]. In the 16th century, the population reached 100,000 for the first time, and within another century that number would double due to the arrival of American [[maize|corn]].<ref>Thompson, E. A. (1968). ''The Goths in Spain''. Clarendon Press</ref>

[[File:Francisco de Goya y Lucientes - Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos]]]]
In the 18th century, Asturias was one of the centres of the [[Enlightenment Spain|Spanish Enlightenment]]. The renowned [[Galician people|Galician]] thinker [[Benito Jerónimo Feijóo y Montenegro|Benito de Feijóo]] settled in the [[Benedictine]] [[Monastery]] of [[San Vicente de Oviedo]]. [[Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos]], a [[polymath]] and prominent reformer and politician of the late 18th century, was born in the seaside town of [[Gijón]].

During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], Asturias was the first Spanish province to rise up against the French following the abdication of King [[Ferdinand VII of Spain|Ferdinand VII]] on 10 May 1808. Riots began in Oviedo and on 25 May the local government formally declared war on [[Napoleon]] with 18,000 men called to arms to resist invasion.<ref>{{cite book |last=Oman |first=Charles |author-link=Charles Oman |year=1902 |title=A History of the Peninsular War |volume=1 |url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.278497/2015.278497.A-History#page/n89/mode/2up |location=Oxford |publisher=Clarendon Press |page=65}}</ref>

The [[Industrial Revolution]] came to Asturias after 1830 with the discovery and systematic exploitation of coal mines and iron factories at the [[Mining Basins (Asturias)|mining basins]] of [[Nalón (comarca)|Nalón]] and [[Caudal (Asturian comarca)|Caudal]]. At the same time, there was significant migration to [[Americas|the Americas]] (especially [[Argentina]], [[Uruguay]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Cuba]] and [[Mexico]]); those who succeeded overseas often returned to their native land much wealthier. These entrepreneurs were known collectively as ''Indianos'', for having visited and made their fortunes in the [[West Indies]] and beyond. The heritage of these wealthy families can still be seen in Asturias today: the region is dotted with many large ''modernista'' villas, as well as cultural institutions such as free schools and public libraries.<ref>Payne, Stanley G. (1993). ''A History of Spain and Portugal, Vol. 1: From the Visigoths to the International Age''. University of Wisconsin Press</ref>

[[File:NE 800ad.jpg|thumb|Location of Asturias and its neighbors in 800 AD]]
Asturias played an important part in the events that led up to the [[Spanish Civil War]]. In October 1934, Asturian miners and other workers staged an armed uprising (see [[Asturian miners' strike of 1934|Revolution of Asturias]]) to oppose the coming to power of the [[Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right|right-wing CEDA]] party, which had obtained three ministerial posts in the centralist government of the [[Second Spanish Republic]]. For a month, a Popular Front Committee exercised control in southern Asturias, while local workers committees sprang up elsewhere in the region. A defense committee led by [[anarcho-syndicalist]] supporters took power in Oviedo. Troops under the command of a then-unknown general named [[Francisco Franco|Francisco Franco Bahamonde]] were brought from [[Spanish Morocco]] to suppress the revolt. Franco applied tactics normally reserved for overseas colonies, using troops of the [[Spanish Legion]] and [[Regulares|Moroccan troops]]; ferocious oppression followed.<ref>Preston, Paul (2012). ''The Spanish Holocaust: Inquisition and Extermination in Twentieth-Century Spain''. W. W. Norton & Company</ref>

As a result, Asturias remained loyal to the republican government during the [[Spanish Civil War]], and was the scene of an extraordinary defence in extreme terrain, the [[Battle of El Mazuco]]. With Franco eventually gaining control of all of Spain, Asturias — traditionally linked to the [[Spanish Crown]] — was known merely as the "Province of Oviedo" from 1939 until Franco's death in 1975. The province's name was restored fully after the return of democracy to Spain in 1977. In the 50s and 60s the industrial progress of Asturias continued with the constitution of national enterprises like [[Ensidesa]] and Hunosa, but the 80s was the decade of a dramatic [[industrial restructuring]].

On 30 December 1981,<ref name=lavozdeasturias>{{cite news |title=Fallece Rafael Fernández |url=http://www.redasturias.com/asturias/Fallece-Rafael-Fernandez_0_392960711.html |work=[[La Voz de Asturias]] |date=2010-12-18 |access-date=2011-01-08 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715164353/http://www.redasturias.com/asturias/Fallece-Rafael-Fernandez_0_392960711.html |archive-date=2011-07-15}}</ref> Asturias became an autonomous community within the decentralised territorial structure established by the Constitution of 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History and tradition |url=https://www.turismoasturias.es/en/cultura/historia-tradicion |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Turismo Asturias |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Rafael Luis Fernández Álvarez]], who had previously served as the President of the Regional Council since 1978, became the first [[President of the Principality of Asturias]], upon the adoption of autonomy.<ref name=lavozdeasturias/> The [[Government of the Principality of Asturias|Asturian regional government]] holds comprehensive competencies in important areas such as health, education and protection of the environment. The current president, elected in 2019, is [[Adrián Barbón]] ([[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]]).

==Administrative and territorial division==
Asturias is organised territorially into 78 [[Municipality|municipalities]], further subdivided into [[Parroquia (Spain)|parishes]].

Asturias is also divided into eight ''[[Comarcas of Asturias|comarcas]]'', which are not administrative divisions. They are only used as a system to homogenize the statistical data made by the Principality.

===Municipalities of Asturias===
{{See also|Municipalities of Asturias}}
{{Largest cities
| country      = Asturias
| kind = municipalities
| stat_ref     = 2022 census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sadei.es/habitantes/enlaces-directos/nomenclator_23_1_ap.html|publisher=SADEI|language=es|title=Población según número de habitantes. Año: 2022}}</ref>
| list_by_pop  = List of municipalities in Asturias
| div_name     = Comarca
| div_link     =

|city_1 = Gijón
|pop_1 = 267,706
|div_1 = Gijón (comarca){{!}}Gijón
|img_1 = Gijon 062.JPG

|city_2 = Oviedo
|pop_2 = 215,167
|div_2 = Oviedo (comarca){{!}}Oviedo
|img_2 = Oviedo 01.jpg

|city_3 = Avilés
|pop_3 = 75,877
|div_3 = Avilés (comarca){{!}}Avilés
|img_3 = Aviles - 004 (30067022734).jpg

|city_4 = Siero
|pop_4 = 51,792
|div_4 = Oviedo (comarca){{!}}Oviedo
|img_4 = Pola de Siero (Siero) - Ayuntamiento.jpg

|city_5 = Langreo
|pop_5 = 38,262
|div_5 = Nalón (comarca){{!}}Nalón

|city_6 = Mieres, Asturias{{!}}Mieres
|pop_6 = 36,754
|div_6 = Caudal (comarca){{!}}Caudal

|city_7 = Castrillón
|pop_7 = 22,235
|div_7 = Avilés (comarca){{!}}Avilés

|city_8 = Corvera de Asturias
|pop_8 = 15,563
|div_8 = Avilés (comarca){{!}}Avilés

|city_9 = San Martín del Rey Aurelio
|pop_9 = 15,505
|div_9 = Nalón (comarca){{!}}Nalón

|city_10 = Villaviciosa, Asturias{{!}}Villaviciosa
|pop_10 = 14,984
|div_10 = Gijón (comarca){{!}}Gijón

|city_11 = Llanera, Asturias{{!}}Llanera
|pop_11 = 13,792
|div_11 = Oviedo (comarca){{!}}Oviedo

|city_12 = Llanes
|pop_12 = 13,545
|div_12 = Oriente (comarca){{!}}Oriente

|city_13 = Laviana
|pop_13 = 12,584
|div_13 = Nalón (comarca){{!}}Nalón

|city_14 = Cangas del Narcea
|pop_14 = 11,817
|div_14 = Narcea (comarca){{!}}Narcea

|city_15 = Valdés, Asturias{{!}}Valdés
|pop_15 = 11,099
|div_15 = Eo-Navia (comarca){{!}}Eo-Navia

|city_16 = Lena, Asturias{{!}}Lena
|pop_16 = 10,499
|div_16 = Caudal (comarca){{!}}Caudal

|city_17 = Gozón
|pop_17 = 10,433
|div_17 = Avilés (comarca){{!}}Avilés

|city_18 = Carreño
|pop_18 = 10,226
|div_18 = Gijón (comarca){{!}}Gijón

|city_19 = Aller, Asturias{{!}}Aller
|pop_19 = 10,201
|div_19 = Caudal (comarca){{!}}Caudal

|city_20 = Grado, Asturias{{!}}Grado
|pop_20 = 9,598
|div_20 = Oviedo (comarca){{!}}Oviedo

}}

===Parishes===
{{Main|Parroquia (Spain)}}

The {{Lang|es|parroquia}} or parish is the subdivision of the Asturian municipalities. Currently, there are 857 parishes integrating the 78 municipalities in the region, and they usually coincide with the ecclesiastic divisions.

==Geography and climate==
[[File:Mapa Topografico Principado de Asturias escala 1-200.000 - año 2010.jpg|thumb|left|Map of Asturias]]
[[File:Urriellu.JPG|thumb|left|Picu Urriellu in the [[Urrieles Massif]]]]
[[File:Playa de Torimbia.jpg|thumb|Torimbia beach, [[Llanes]]]]
[[File:Cabo Vidio 3.jpg|thumb|[[Cape Vidio]], [[Cudillero]]]]
[[File:LAGOS DE COVADONGA 5.jpg|thumb|left|[[Lakes of Covadonga]] in [[Picos de Europa]]]]
[[File:Falk Oberdorf Landschaft Asturias.JPG|thumb|left|Llosa de Viango]]
The [[Cantabrian Mountains]] (''Cordillera Cantábrica'') form Asturias's natural border with the province of [[León (province)|León]] to the south. In the eastern range, the [[Picos de Europa]] National Park contains the highest and arguably most spectacular mountains, rising to {{Convert|2648|m|ft}} at the Torrecerredo peak. Other notable features of this predominantly limestone range are the [[Redes Natural Park|Parque Natural de Redes]] in the central east, the central Ubiñas south of [[Oviedo]], and the [[Somiedo Natural Park|Parque Natural de Somiedo]] in the west. The Cantabrian mountains offer opportunities for activities such as climbing, walking, skiing and caving, and extend some {{Convert|200|km|mi}} in total, as far as [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] province to the west of Asturias and [[Cantabria]] province to the east. Similar opportunities are available for the interested traveler of Asturias in [[Caldoveiro Peak]].

The Asturian coastline is extensive, with hundreds of beaches, coves and natural sea caves. Notable examples include the Playa del Silencio (''Beach of Silence'') near the fishing village of Cudillero (west of [[Gijón]]), as well as the many beaches surrounding the summer resort of Llanes, such as the Barro, Ballota and Torimbia (the latter a predominantly [[nudist]] beach). Most of Asturias's beaches are sandy, clean, and bordered by steep cliffs, on top of which it is not unusual to see grazing livestock.

The key features of Asturian geography are its rugged coastal cliffs and the mountainous interior.
The climate of Asturias is heavily marked by the Gulf Stream. Falling within the Cantabrian belt known as [[Cantabrian Coast|Green Spain]] it has high precipitations all year round. Summers are mild and, on the coast, winters also have relatively benign temperatures, rarely including frost. The cold is especially felt in the mountains, where snow is present from October till May. Both rain and snow are regular weather features of Asturian winters. In coastal or near-coastal areas, daytime high temperatures generally average around {{convert|12|C|F}} – {{convert|13|C|F}} during winter and {{convert|22|C|F}} – {{convert|23|C|F}} in summer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=1249I&k=ast |title=Standard climate values for Oviedo |work=[[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]] |access-date=11 April 2015 |archive-date=22 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722185330/http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=1249I&k=ast |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| align=center
|-
|{{Weather box|width=100%
|location = Oviedo 336m (1981–2010)
|collapsed = yes
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 22.0
|Feb record high C = 24.6
|Mar record high C = 26.8
|Apr record high C = 31.5
|May record high C = 32.0
|Jun record high C = 35.5
|Jul record high C = 35.0
|Aug record high C = 35.6
|Sep record high C = 36.4
|Oct record high C = 31.7
|Nov record high C = 26.6
|Dec record high C = 23.0
|year record high C = 36.4
|Jan high C = 12.0
|Feb high C = 12.7
|Mar high C = 14.9
|Apr high C = 15.7
|May high C = 18.2
|Jun high C = 20.9
|Jul high C = 22.8
|Aug high C = 23.3
|Sep high C = 22.1
|Oct high C = 18.7
|Nov high C = 14.6
|Dec high C = 12.4
|year high C = 17.4
|Jan mean C = 8.3
|Feb mean C = 8.7
|Mar mean C = 10.5
|Apr mean C = 11.3
|May mean C = 13.9
|Jun mean C = 16.7
|Jul mean C = 18.7
|Aug mean C = 19.1
|Sep mean C = 17.6
|Oct mean C = 14.6
|Nov mean C = 10.9
|Dec mean C = 8.9
|year mean C = 13.3
|Jan low C = 4.6
|Feb low C = 4.7
|Mar low C = 6.1
|Apr low C = 6.8
|May low C = 9.5
|Jun low C = 12.4
|Jul low C = 14.5
|Aug low C = 14.8
|Sep low C = 13.1
|Oct low C = 10.4
|Nov low C = 7.2
|Dec low C = 5.3
|year low C = 9.1
|Jan record low C = -6.0
|Feb record low C = -3.8
|Mar record low C = -3.6
|Apr record low C = -0.5
|May record low C = 1.6
|Jun record low C = 5.6
|Jul record low C = 7.4
|Aug record low C = 8.6
|Sep record low C = 5.2
|Oct record low C = 2.4
|Nov record low C = -4.2
|Dec record low C = -3.6
|year record low C = -6.0
|Jan precipitation mm = 84
|Feb precipitation mm = 81
|Mar precipitation mm = 78
|Apr precipitation mm = 100
|May precipitation mm = 82
|Jun precipitation mm = 57
|Jul precipitation mm = 45
|Aug precipitation mm = 56
|Sep precipitation mm = 66
|Oct precipitation mm = 99
|Nov precipitation mm = 115
|Dec precipitation mm = 99
|year precipitation mm = 960
|Jan precipitation days = 11
|Feb precipitation days = 10
|Mar precipitation days = 10
|Apr precipitation days = 12
|May precipitation days = 12
|Jun precipitation days = 8
|Jul precipitation days = 7
|Aug precipitation days = 8
|Sep precipitation days = 8
|Oct precipitation days = 11
|Nov precipitation days = 12
|Dec precipitation days = 12
|unit precipitation days = 1&nbsp;mm
|year precipitation days = 122
|Jan humidity = 76
|Feb humidity = 75
|Mar humidity = 74
|Apr humidity = 76
|May humidity = 78
|Jun humidity = 79
|Jul humidity = 79
|Aug humidity = 80
|Sep humidity = 78
|Oct humidity = 79
|Nov humidity = 79
|Dec humidity = 77
|year humidity = 78
|Jan sun = 115
|Feb sun = 122
|Mar sun = 153
|Apr sun = 161
|May sun = 167
|Jun sun = 167
|Jul sun = 177
|Aug sun = 176
|Sep sun = 167
|Oct sun = 138
|Nov sun = 109
|Dec sun = 105
|year sun = 1756
|source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/conocermas/publicaciones/detalles/guia_resumida_2010 |title=Guía resumida del clima en España (1981-2010) |access-date=17 April 2019 |work=[[AEMET]] |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117003302/http://www.aemet.es/es/conocermas/publicaciones/detalles/guia_resumida_2010 |archive-date=17 November 2012 |year=2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|date=November 2014
}}
|-
|{{Weather box|width=100%
|location = Gijón (1971–2000)
|collapsed = yes
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 23.6
|Feb record high C = 23.0
|Mar record high C = 27.0
|Apr record high C = 28.0
|May record high C = 31.8
|Jun record high C = 36.4
|Jul record high C = 31.4
|Aug record high C = 30.0
|Sep record high C = 34.6
|Oct record high C = 30.4
|Nov record high C = 26.1
|Dec record high C = 25.0
|year record high C = 36.4
|Jan high C = 13.1
|Feb high C = 13.8
|Mar high C = 14.9
|Apr high C = 15.6
|May high C = 17.8
|Jun high C = 20.2
|Jul high C = 22.4
|Aug high C = 23.2
|Sep high C = 21.8
|Oct high C = 19.0
|Nov high C = 15.6
|Dec high C = 14.0
|year high C = 17.6
|Jan mean C = 8.9
|Feb mean C = 9.6
|Mar mean C = 10.7
|Apr mean C = 11.8
|May mean C = 14.3
|Jun mean C = 16.9
|Jul mean C = 19.2
|Aug mean C = 19.7
|Sep mean C = 17.9
|Oct mean C = 15.0
|Nov mean C = 11.6
|Dec mean C = 9.9
|year mean C = 13.8
|Jan low C = 4.7
|Feb low C = 5.4
|Mar low C = 6.6
|Apr low C = 8.1
|May low C = 10.9
|Jun low C = 13.6
|Jul low C = 16.0
|Aug low C = 16.2
|Sep low C = 14.1
|Oct low C = 11.0
|Nov low C = 7.6
|Dec low C = 5.8
|year low C = 10.0
|Jan record low C = -4.6
|Feb record low C = -4.0
|Mar record low C = -2.0
|Apr record low C = 0.4
|May record low C = 3.2
|Jun record low C = 5.8
|Jul record low C = 8.6
|Aug record low C = 8.2
|Sep record low C = 5.0
|Oct record low C = 2.6
|Nov record low C = -1.4
|Dec record low C = -4.8
|year record low C = -4.8
|Jan precipitation mm = 94
|Feb precipitation mm = 85
|Mar precipitation mm = 74
|Apr precipitation mm = 93
|May precipitation mm = 79
|Jun precipitation mm = 47
|Jul precipitation mm = 45
|Aug precipitation mm = 54
|Sep precipitation mm = 70
|Oct precipitation mm = 104
|Nov precipitation mm = 120
|Dec precipitation mm = 104
|year precipitation mm = 971
|Jan precipitation days = 12
|Feb precipitation days = 11
|Mar precipitation days = 10
|Apr precipitation days = 12
|May precipitation days = 11
|Jun precipitation days = 7
|Jul precipitation days = 6
|Aug precipitation days = 7
|Sep precipitation days = 8
|Oct precipitation days = 11
|Nov precipitation days = 12
|Dec precipitation days = 12
|year precipitation days = 121
|unit precipitation days = 1&nbsp;mm
|Jan sun = 103
|Feb sun = 109
|Mar sun = 137
|Apr sun = 151
|May sun = 167
|Jun sun = 180
|Jul sun = 194
|Aug sun = 190
|Sep sun = 158
|Oct sun = 132
|Nov sun = 106
|Dec sun = 92
|year sun = 1721
|source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/elclima/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=1208&k=ast |title=Valores Climatológicos Normales. Asturias / Gijon |access-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720111949/http://www.aemet.es/es/elclima/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=1208&k=ast |archive-date=20 July 2011 |work=[[AEMET]] |language=es |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}
|-
|{{Weather box|width=100%
|location = Avilés—[[Asturias Airport]] (1981–2010)
|collapsed = yes
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 23.5
|Feb record high C = 24.3
|Mar record high C = 26.7
|Apr record high C = 28.6
|May record high C = 33.6
|Jun record high C = 36.0
|Jul record high C = 33.0
|Aug record high C = 31.6
|Sep record high C = 36.0
|Oct record high C = 31.0
|Nov record high C = 25.6
|Dec record high C = 25.6
|year record high C = 36.0
|Jan high C = 12.9
|Feb high C = 13.1
|Mar high C = 14.6
|Apr high C = 15.1
|May high C = 17.3
|Jun high C = 19.6
|Jul high C = 21.5
|Aug high C = 22.2
|Sep high C = 21.2
|Oct high C = 18.7
|Nov high C = 15.3
|Dec high C = 13.3
|year high C = 17.1
|Jan mean C = 9.4
|Feb mean C = 9.4
|Mar mean C = 10.7
|Apr mean C = 11.3
|May mean C = 13.6
|Jun mean C = 16.2
|Jul mean C = 18.2
|Aug mean C = 18.8
|Sep mean C = 17.4
|Oct mean C = 15.1
|Nov mean C = 11.8
|Dec mean C = 9.9
|year mean C = 13.5
|Jan low C = 5.9
|Feb low C = 5.7
|Mar low C = 6.8
|Apr low C = 7.5
|May low C = 10.0
|Jun low C = 12.8
|Jul low C = 14.8
|Aug low C = 15.3
|Sep low C = 13.7
|Oct low C = 11.3
|Nov low C = 8.4
|Dec low C = 6.5
|year low C = 9.9
|Jan record low C = -3.0
|Feb record low C = -2.6
|Mar record low C = -2.4
|Apr record low C = -0.6
|May record low C = 2.0
|Jun record low C = 5.6
|Jul record low C = 8.0
|Aug record low C = 8.4
|Sep record low C = 6.5
|Oct record low C = 3.0
|Nov record low C = -0.8
|Dec record low C = -3.0
|year record low C = -3.0
|Jan precipitation mm = 103
|Feb precipitation mm = 88
|Mar precipitation mm = 82
|Apr precipitation mm = 99
|May precipitation mm = 79
|Jun precipitation mm = 61
|Jul precipitation mm = 47
|Aug precipitation mm = 60
|Sep precipitation mm = 73
|Oct precipitation mm = 116
|Nov precipitation mm = 134
|Dec precipitation mm = 117
|year precipitation mm = 1062
|Jan sun = 98
|Feb sun = 109
|Mar sun = 142
|Apr sun = 151
|May sun = 166
|Jun sun = 163
|Jul sun = 173
|Aug sun = 182
|Sep sun = 170
|Oct sun = 130
|Nov sun = 96
|Dec sun = 76
|year sun = 1670
|source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=1212E&k=ast |title=Valores Climatológicos Normales. Asturias Aeropuerto |work=[[AEMET]] |access-date=17 March 2015 |archive-date=7 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907110444/http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=1212E&k=ast |url-status=live }}</ref>
|date=March 2015
}}
|}

==Pollution and conservation==
This part of Spain is one of the best conserved in the entire country, and full of vegetation and wild spaces. It holds two of the most important natural parks in Spain, and is very renowned for the Picos de Europa and Somiedo areas.

The Gijón area was marked and singled out as one of the [[pollution]] hotspots in Western Europe in a 2015 report from the International Institute for Applied Science Systems, where predictions for 2030 conditions were made.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/02/23/map-these-will-be-europes-most-polluted-cities-by-2030/ |title=Map: These will be the Europe's most polluted cities in 2030 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=2 March 2015 |first=Rick |last=Noack |date=23 February 2015 |archive-date=23 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223190418/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/02/23/map-these-will-be-europes-most-polluted-cities-by-2030/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/15/1539/2015/acp-15-1539-2015.pdf |title=Modelling Street Level PM10 Concentrations Across Europe: source apportionment and possible futures |publisher=International Institute for Applied Science Systems |access-date=2 March 2015 |journal=[[Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics]] |first1=G. |last1=Kiesewetter |first2=J. |last2=Borken-Kleefeld |first3=W. |last3=Schöpp |first4=C. |last4=Heyes |first5=P. |last5=Thunis |first6=B. |last6=Bessagnet |first7=E. |last7=Terrenoire |first8=H. |last8=Fagerli |first9=A. |last9=Nyiri |first10=M. |last10=Amann |date=13 February 2015 |volume=15 |issue=3 |doi=10.5194/acp-15-1539-2015 |pages=1539–1553 |bibcode=2015ACP....15.1539K |doi-access=free |archive-date=19 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319071033/http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/15/1539/2015/acp-15-1539-2015.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Gijón was marked much higher than any other Spanish metro area, in spite of the much larger populations in cities such as [[Madrid]] and [[Barcelona]]. This was attributed to heavy industrial activities. Since outdoor air pollution is a major cause of premature death in Europe,<ref name="Air - Environment">{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/index_en.htm |title=Clean Air - Environment |work=[[European Commission]] |access-date=2 March 2015 |date=12 February 2019 |archive-date=10 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310211602/http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/index_en.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> the excessive pollution is a major concern for Asturias. The majority of Asturias population live within a {{convert|25|km|mi}} range from the port of Gijón, so pollution would be likely to heavily affect the population.

A Spanish government study conducted in 2010 regarding life expectancy in relative communities, Asturias was ranked lowest (tied with [[Andalucia]]) for male life expectancy with 76.7 years from 2007 readings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msssi.gob.es/estadEstudios/estadisticas/inforRecopilaciones/docs/ESPERANZAS_DE_VIDA_SALUDABLES_EN_ESPAN_INGLES-2010.pdf |title=Healthy life expectancies in Spain 1986-2007. Disability-free life expectancy and Life expectancy in good perceived health in Spain and its Autonomous Communities |publisher=[[Government of Spain]] |work=[[Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality]] |access-date=23 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304215336/http://www.msssi.gob.es/estadEstudios/estadisticas/inforRecopilaciones/docs/ESPERANZAS_DE_VIDA_SALUDABLES_EN_ESPAN_INGLES-2010.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |year=2010 |first=Mercedes |last=Alfaro |editor-first=Enrique |editor-last=Regidor |editor2-first=Juan L. |editor2-last=Gutiérrez-Fisac |editor3-first=David |editor3-last=Guevara |editor4-first=Antonio José |editor4-last=Jiménez |editor5-first=María Pilar |editor5-last=Tejeda |url-status=live}}</ref> However, female life expectancy was 84 years and normal among autonomous communities. However, even the male life expectancy is only just below Western European standards, and exaggerated by the high Spanish life expectancy. Considering that many Asturians live in relatively close proximity to Gijón's heavily industrial areas, these figures (especially for female relative health) still contribute to a position that Gijón is a safe location to live. The numbers for "disability-free" life expectancy has risen significantly both for males and females in the area since 1986, according to the report.<ref name="Air - Environment"/>

The coal fired electric generating plant, Aboño, completed a Spanish government/EU demand to install equipment to drastically reduce its emissions. Also, the other two major polluters - Arcelor Gijón and Arcelor Avilés - have announced an investment of 100 million euros to do the same. These factories have been a major cause of the area's high airborne pollution.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations|1842|451604|1857|524529|1877|597346|1887|615844|1900|637801|1910|709764|1920|779294|1930|834553|1940|869488|1950|895804|1960|994670|1970|1052048|1981|1129556|1991|1093937|2001|1062998|2011|1075183|2021|1012117|source=[[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|INE]]<ref>{{cite web|title=INEbase. Alterations to the municipalities in the Population Censuses since 1842|url=https://www.ine.es/intercensal/inicio.do?L=1|publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Spain)|National Statistics Institute]]|language=es}}</ref>}}As of 2024, Asturias has a population of 1,009,599 which constitutes 2.1% of the population of Spain, with the population density numbering 95.2 people per square kilometer.

The Asturian population has the highest mortality rate in Spain and the lowest [[total fertility rate]] (1.03), the lowest in the European Union.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tgs00100 |title=Eurostat - Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table |publisher=Epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu |date=2015-03-02 |access-date=2015-08-01 |archive-date=2014-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414195143/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tgs00100 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Immigration is not as high as in the rest of Spain, as immigrants only represent 3.65% of the population as of 2017.

===Languages===
[[File:Asturian linguistic areas.PNG|thumb|left|Language map of Asturias]]
The only official language in Asturias is [[Spanish language|Spanish]]. The [[Asturian language]], also known as Bable, is also spoken, and is protected by law (''Ley 1/1998, de 23 de marzo, de uso y promoción del bable/asturiano'' — "Law 1/1998, of 23 March, of Use and Promotion of Bable/Asturian"). It is sometimes used by the Asturian [[civil service]]. In the western part of Asturias, [[Eonavian]] is also spoken, and its promotion also falls under the responsibility of Law 1/1998. Eonavian is [[dialect continuum|intermediate]] between Asturian and [[Galician language|Galician]], though it is often regarded as just a variety of Galician; its use in the Asturian Administration is minor compared to the use of the Asturian language. Within Asturias, there is an ongoing process to establish [[place names]] in Asturian and Eonavian dialects.

===Religion===
In 2019, the [[Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas|Centre for Sociological Research]] carried a study showing the population of Asturias was 65.2% [[Catholic Church in Spain|Catholic]] (25.1% practicing), 13.5% [[Agnosticism|agnostic]], and 12.8% [[Atheism|atheist]].<ref name=CIS2019Asturias>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/3260_3279/3263/Marginales/es3263mar_Asturias.pdf |author=''Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas'' (Centre for Sociological Research) |title=Macrobarómetro de octubre 2019, Banco de datos - Document 'Población con derecho a voto en elecciones generales y residente en España, Principado de Asturias (aut.) |date=October 2019 |page=21 |access-date=4 February 2020 |language=es |archive-date=4 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204180440/http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/3260_3279/3263/Marginales/es3263mar_Asturias.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{clear left}}

==Politics==
The organisation and political structure of Asturias is governed by the [[Statute of Autonomy of the Principality of Asturias]], in force since 30 January 1982. According to the Statute, the institutional bodies of the Principality of Asturias are three: the [[Council of Government of the Principality of Asturias|Council of Government]], the [[General Junta of the Principality of Asturias|General Junta]] and [[President of the Principality of Asturias|President]]. The form of government of the Principality is [[Parliamentarism|Parliament]]: The General Junta is the [[legislature]] to choose, on behalf of the Asturian people, the President of the Principality of Asturias. The president of the Principality is also the president of the Council of Government, the head of [[executive power]], and politically answerable to the General Junta.

The functions of the General Junta are the approval of budgets, and the direction and control of the action of the Council of Government. It is composed of 45 deputies, elected for four years through the universal suffrage within a system proportional representation that the allocation of deputies is based on D'Hondt method.

===Results of the elections to the General Junta===

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! colspan="3" |Deputies in General Junta since 1983
|-
| colspan="3" | {{hidden begin|title=''Key to parties''|contentstyle=font-size:95%; border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}
{{colbegin|colwidth=12.5em}}
{{legend|{{party color|Podemos Asturias}}|[[Podemos (Spanish political party)|Podemos]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Communist Party of Asturias}}|[[Communist Party of Asturias|PCA–PCE]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|United Left of Asturias}}|[[United Left of Asturias|IU–IX]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Partíu Asturianista}}|[[Partíu Asturianista|PAS]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Asturian Socialist Federation}}|[[Asturian Socialist Federation|PSOE]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Union, Progress and Democracy}}|[[Union, Progress and Democracy|UPyD]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}}|[[Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)|UCD]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Citizens (Spanish political party)}}|[[Citizens (Spanish political party)|Cs]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Asturian Renewal Union}}|[[Asturian Renewal Union|URAS]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)}}|[[Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)|CDS]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Democratic Coalition (Spain)}}|[[Democratic Coalition (Spain)|CD]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Asturias Forum}}|[[Asturias Forum|FAC]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|People's Party of Asturias}}|[[People's Party of Asturias|PP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|People's Coalition (Spain)}}|[[People's Coalition (Spain)|CP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|People's Alliance (Spain)}}|[[People's Alliance (Spain)|AP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Vox (political party)}}|[[Vox (political party)|Vox]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{colend}}
{{hidden end}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Election
! Distribution
! [[President of the Principality of Asturias|President]]
|-
| align=center|[[1983 Asturian regional election|1983]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Communist Party of Asturias}}; width:5em; color:white;"| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Asturian Socialist Federation}}; width:26em; color:white;"| 26
| style="background:{{party color|People's Coalition (Spain)}}; width:14em; color:white;"| 14
|}
| rowspan="2" |[[Pedro de Silva]] ([[Asturian Socialist Federation|PSOE]])
|-
| align=center|[[1987 Asturian regional election|1987]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|United Left of Asturias}}; width:4em; color:white;"| 4
| style="background:{{party color|Asturian Socialist Federation}}; width:20em; color:white;"| 20
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)}}; width:8em; color:white;"| 8
| style="background:{{party color|People's Alliance (Spain)}}; width:13em; color:white;"| 13
|}
|-
| align=center|[[1991 Asturian regional election|1991]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|United Left of Asturias}}; width:6em; color:white;"| 6
| style="background:{{party color|Partíu Asturianista}}; width:1em; color:white;"| 1
| style="background:{{party color|Asturian Socialist Federation}}; width:21em; color:white;"| 21
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)}}; width:2em; color:white;"| 2
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of Asturias}}; width:15em; color:white;"| 15
|}
| [[Juan Luis Rodríguez-Vigil]] ([[Asturian Socialist Federation|PSOE]])<br/>[[Antonio Trevín]] ([[Asturian Socialist Federation|PSOE]])<br/>
|-
| align=center|[[1995 Asturian regional election|1995]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|United Left of Asturias}}; width:6em; color:white;"| 6
| style="background:{{party color|Partíu Asturianista}}; width:1em; color:white;"| 1
| style="background:{{party color|Asturian Socialist Federation}}; width:17em; color:white;"| 17
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of Asturias}}; width:21em; color:white;"| 21
|}
| [[Sergio Marqués Fernández|Sergio Marqués]] ([[People's Party of Asturias|PP]] / [[Asturian Renewal Union|URAS]])
|-
| align=center|[[1999 Asturian regional election|1999]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|United Left of Asturias}}; width:3em; color:white;"| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Asturian Socialist Federation}}; width:24em; color:white;"| 24
| style="background:{{party color|Asturian Renewal Union}}; width:3em; color:white;"| 3
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of Asturias}}; width:15em; color:white;"| 15
|}
| rowspan="3" |[[Vicente Álvarez Areces]] ([[Asturian Socialist Federation|PSOE]])
|-
| align=center|[[2003 Asturian regional election|2003]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|United Left of Asturias}}; width:4em; color:white;"| 4
| style="background:{{party color|Asturian Socialist Federation}}; width:22em; color:white;"| 22
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of Asturias}}; width:19em; color:white;"| 19
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|-
| align=center|[[2007 Asturian regional election|2007]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|United Left of Asturias}}; width:4em; color:white;"| 4
| style="background:{{party color|Asturian Socialist Federation}}; width:21em; color:white;"| 21
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of Asturias}}; width:20em; color:white;"| 20
|}
|-
| align=center|[[2011 Asturian regional election|2011]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|United Left of Asturias}}; width:4em; color:white;"| 4
| style="background:{{party color|Asturian Socialist Federation}}; width:15em; color:white;"| 15
| style="background:{{party color|Asturias Forum}}; width:16em; color:white;"| 16
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of Asturias}}; width:10em; color:white;"| 10
|}
| [[Francisco Álvarez-Cascos]] ([[Asturias Forum|FAC]])
|-
| align=center|[[2012 Asturian regional election|2012]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|United Left of Asturias}}; width:5em; color:white;"| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Asturian Socialist Federation}}; width:17em; color:white;"| 17
| style="background:{{party color|Union, Progress and Democracy}}; width:1em; color:white;"| 1
| style="background:{{party color|Asturias Forum}}; width:12em; color:white;"| 12
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of Asturias}}; width:10em; color:white;"| 10
|}
| rowspan=2|[[Javier Fernández Fernández|Javier Fernández]] ([[Asturian Socialist Federation|PSOE]])
|-
| align=center|[[2015 Asturian regional election|2015]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Podemos Asturias}}; width:9em; color:white;"| 9
| style="background:{{party color|United Left of Asturias}}; width:7.41%; color:white;"| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Asturian Socialist Federation}}; width:14em; color:white;"| 14
| style="background:{{party color|Citizens (Spanish political party)}}; width:3em; color:white;"| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Asturias Forum}}; width:3em; color:white;"| 3
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of Asturias}}; width:11em; color:white;"| 11
|}
|-
| align=center|[[2019 Asturian regional election|2019]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Podemos Asturias}}; width:4em; color:white;"| 4
| style="background:{{party color|United Left of Asturias}}; width:2em; color:white;"| 2
| style="background:{{party color|Asturian Socialist Federation}}; width:20em; color:white;"| 20
| style="background:{{party color|Citizens (Spanish political party)}}; width:5em; color:white;"| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Asturias Forum}}; width:2em; color:white;"| 2
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of Asturias}}; width:10em; color:white;"| 10
| style="background:{{party color|Vox (political party)}}; width:2em; color:white;"| 2
|}
| rowspan="2" | [[Adrián Barbón]] ([[Asturian Socialist Federation|PSOE]])

|-
| align=center|[[2023 Asturian regional election|2023]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
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| style="background:{{party color|Podemos Asturias}}; width:1em; color:white;"| 1
| style="background:{{party color|United Left of Asturias}}; width:3em; color:white;"| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Asturian Socialist Federation}}; width:19em; color:white;"| 19
| style="background:{{party color|Asturias Forum}}; width:1em; color:white;"| 1
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of Asturias}}; width:17em; color:white;"| 17
| style="background:{{party color|Vox (political party)}}; width:4em; color:white;"| 4
|}
|}

==Economy==
[[File:Asturian sheep.jpg|thumb|Asturian sheep on Picos de Europa]]
[[File:Torre CCS Gijón.JPG|upright|thumbnail|right|El Musel, the Port of Gijón]]
[[File:CentroNiemeyer70.jpg|thumb|[[Centro Niemeyer]] designed by [[Oscar Niemeyer]] ]]

For centuries, the backbone of the Asturian economy was [[agriculture]] and [[fishing]]. [[Milk]] production and its derivatives was also traditional, but its big development was a byproduct of the economic expansion of the late 1960s. Nowadays, products from the dairy cooperative Central Lechera Asturiana are being commercialised all over Spain.

The main regional industry in modern times, however, was [[coal]] mining and [[steel]] production: in the times of Francisco Franco's dictatorship, it was the centre of Spain's steel industry. The then state-owned ENSIDESA steel company is now part of the privatised [[Aceralia]], now part of the [[ArcelorMittal]] Group. The industry created many jobs, which resulted in significant migration from other regions in Spain, mainly [[Extremadura]], [[Andalusia]] and [[Castile and León]].

The steel industry is now in decline when measured in terms of number of jobs provided, as is the mining. The reasons for the latter are mainly the high costs of production to extract the coal compared to other regions. Regional economic growth is below the broader Spanish rate, though in recent years growth in service industries has helped reduce Asturias's high rate of unemployment. Large out-of-town retail parks have opened near the region's largest cities (Gijón and Oviedo), whilst the ever-present Spanish construction industry appears to continue to thrive.

Asturias has benefited extensively since 1986 from [[European Union]] investment in roads and other essential [[infrastructure]], though there has also been some controversy regarding how these funds are spent, for example, on miners' pensions.

The [[Gross domestic product]] (GDP) of the autonomous community was 23.3 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 1.9% of Spanish economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 24,400 euros or 81% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 98% of the EU average.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58 |title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018 |website=Eurostat |access-date=2020-03-07 |archive-date=2022-10-09 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58 |url-status=live }}</ref> This makes the region the 10th richest in Spain, a big decrease from the 1970s/1980s - the heyday of the Spanish mining industry, when Asturias was commonly regarded as one of the most prosperous regions in Southern Europe. Asturias has been growing below the Spanish national average since the decline of the mining industry, and grew just 0.82% in 2008, the lowest of all regions in Spain. On the plus side, unemployment in Asturias is below the average of Spain; it stood at 13.7% in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=de&pcode=tgs00010&plugin=1 |title=Regional Unemployment by NUTS2 Region |website=Eurostat |access-date=2018-11-13 |archive-date=2018-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105202703/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=de&pcode=tgs00010&plugin=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
!Year
!2006!!2007!!2008!!2009!!2010!!2011!!2012!!2013!!2014!!2015!!2016!!2017!!2018!!2019!!2020
|-
!Unemployment rate
|9.1% ||8.0% ||10.0% ||14.1% ||16.6% ||18.8% ||23.8% ||22.3% ||20.8% ||20.3% ||14.6% ||14.6% ||12.9% ||13.1% ||13.5%
|}

==Transportation==
[[File:Régional Embraer 190 F-HBLA OVD-LEAS.jpg|thumbnail|right|Asturias International Airport]]

===Air===
Asturias is served by [[Asturias Airport|Asturias International Airport (OVD)]], {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=off}} from Oviedo, near the northwest coast and the industrial town of Avilés.

* Several national carriers link Asturias to [[Madrid]] and [[Barcelona]], [[Alicante]], [[Paris]] and others.
** [[Binter Canarias|Binter]]
** [[Iberia Airlines|Iberia]]
** [[Volotea]]
** [[Vueling]]

Eastern Asturias is also easily accessible from [[Santander Airport]]. Recent improvements introduced in the road network permit flying into [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]] and later driving into Asturias, which can be entered in less than an hour's drive. The Irish airline [[Ryanair]] operates flights to [[Santander Airport]] from Frankfurt Hahn, Liverpool, Dublin, Edinburgh, London Stansted and Rome Ciampino.

===Sea===
[[El Musel]] (the Port of Gijón) is able to receive cruise ships of any size. Companies such as P&O, Swan Hellenic or Hapag Lloyd choose the Port of Gijón every year for their calls in the [[Atlantic Europe]]an Coast. The following areas are available for cruise vessels:
* Moliner quay: 313 m berthing with 14 m draught.
* 7ª Alignment: 326 m with 12 m draught.
* Espigón II. South alignment. 360 m berth with 9 m draught.

These locations allow a high degree of access control, with security guaranteed for both vessels and passengers alike. The city centre is only {{cvt|4|km}} away and the Port Authority provides dedicated coach connection allowing passengers to take advantage of the cultural, [[gastronomy|gastronomic]] and commercial opportunities that Gijón has to offer.

Between 2010 and 2014, the city of Gijón was connected by [[ferry]] with the French city of [[Nantes]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lne.es/gijon/2010/09/16/inaugurada-gijon-primera-autopista-mar-espanola/968763.html |title=Inaugurada en Gijón la primera autopista del mar española |newspaper=[[La Nueva España]] |date=16 September 2010 |access-date=1 August 2015 |language=es |publisher=Prensa Ibérica |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728141153/https://www.lne.es/gijon/2010/09/16/inaugurada-gijon-primera-autopista-mar-espanola/968763.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This connection was also known as the "sea highway" and it had a frequency of two ferries per day in both directions. The route was cancelled in September 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.elcomercio.es/gijon/201409/22/revoir-francia-20140921170341.html |title='Au revoir' a Francia por mar |newspaper=[[El Comercio (Spain)]] |date=22 September 2014 |access-date=30 January 2020 |language=es |publisher=Grupo Vocento |archive-date=16 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116045237/https://www.elcomercio.es/gijon/201409/22/revoir-francia-20140921170341.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Train===
[[File:Estacion Norte Oviedo - Nacho Gonmi.jpg|thumbnail|right|[[Oviedo railway station]]]]
{{See also|Cercanías Asturias}}
Spain's national [[Renfe]] rail network also serves Asturias well; trains regularly depart to and from the Spanish interior as well as Eastern and Western Asturias. Major stops are the regional capital, [[Oviedo]], and the main coastal city, [[Gijón]]. Under the [[Cantabrian Mountains]], the [[Pajares Base Tunnel]] opened for commercial services end of November 2023,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-21 |title=The AVE arrives in Asturias, 9 ministers later, 13 years late and at a cost of 80 million per kilometer - Kiratas |newspaper=Kiratas |url=https://www.kiratas.com/2023/10/21/the-ave-arrives-in-asturias-9-ministers-later-13-years-late-and-at-a-cost-of-80-million-per-kilometer/ |access-date=2023-10-21 |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116045238/https://www.kiratas.com/2023/10/21/the-ave-arrives-in-asturias-9-ministers-later-13-years-late-and-at-a-cost-of-80-million-per-kilometer/ |url-status=live }}</ref> introducing [[AVE]] [[High-speed rail|high speed trains]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 June 2022 |title=El Gobierno confirma que la Variante para pasajeros y mercancías abrirá en mayo de 2023 |language=es |work=Leonoticias |url=https://www.leonoticias.com/comarcas/gobierno-confirma-variante-20220623202856-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F |access-date=19 July 2022 |archive-date=16 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116045340/https://www.leonoticias.com/comarcas/gobierno-confirma-variante-20220623202856-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 September 2021 |title=Primer tren de pruebas en la Variante de Pajares tras 17 años de obra y 3.716 millones |language=es |work=La Nueva Crónica |url=https://www.lanuevacronica.com/primer-tren-de-pruebas-en-la-variante-de-pajares-tras-17-anos-de-obra-y-3716-millones |access-date=19 July 2022 |archive-date=19 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719164552/https://www.lanuevacronica.com/primer-tren-de-pruebas-en-la-variante-de-pajares-tras-17-anos-de-obra-y-3716-millones |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Bus===
There is also a comprehensive bus service run by the [[ALSA (bus company)|ALSA]] company. It links [[Avilés]], [[Gijón]], [[Oviedo]] and [[Mieres, Asturias|Mieres]] with [[Madrid]] and other major towns, several times a day. These include services to [[Barcelona]], [[Salamanca]], [[León (Spain)|León]], [[Valladolid]], [[A Coruña]], [[Bilbao]], [[Seville]], [[San Sebastián]], [[Paris]], [[Brussels]] and [[Nice]], to name just a few.

==Main sights==
[[File:Oviedo-Catedral.JPG|thumb|right|upright|[[Cathedral of San Salvador, Oviedo|The Oviedo Cathedral]]. Built from 781 to 16th century.]]
[[File:La santa cueva.jpg|thumb|right|[[Holy Cave of Covadonga]]]]
[[File:Cudillero Asturias.jpg|thumb|right|The village of [[Cudillero]]]]
[[File:2482-Puente romano en Cangas de Onis (Asturias).jpg|thumbnail|right|The Roman Bridge of Cangas de Onís]]

===Key attractions===
[[Oviedo]] is the capital city of Asturias and contains [[Santa María del Naranco]] and [[San Miguel de Lillo]], a [[pre-Romanesque]] church and a palace respectively, which were built by the first Asturian kings on Mount Naranco, to the north of the city ([[World Heritage Site]]). In modern architecture, the ''Palacio de Congresos de Oviedo'' (or ''Modoo'') was designed by [[Santiago Calatrava]].

[[Gijón]], the biggest city of Asturias, is a coastal city known for cultural and sports events,<ref>{{Cite web |last=SNwebadmin |title=Semana Negra de Gijón |url=https://www.semananegra.org/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=Semana Negra |language=es |archive-date=2022-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811133252/https://www.semananegra.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Festival Metrópoli Gijón - Festival de música, cultura y entretenimiento de Gijón |url=https://metropoligijon.com/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=Festival Metrópoli Gijón - Festival de música, cultura y entretenimiento de Gijón |archive-date=2022-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814063850/https://metropoligijon.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gijon {{!}} General {{!}} ATP Tour {{!}} Tenis |url=https://www.atptour.com/es/tournaments/gijon/2807/overview |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=ATP Tour |archive-date=2022-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811133251/https://www.atptour.com/es/tournaments/gijon/2807/overview |url-status=live }}</ref> and a beach tourism centre in northern Spain. It also is known for the traditional Asturian gastronomy and for being an Asturian cider production spot.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} Museums in the city include the '''[[Universidad Laboral de Gijón]]''', including a modern art museum and theatre.

[[Avilés]] is the third largest city in Asturias, where "La villa del adelantado" (as locals call it, in reference of [[Pedro Menéndez de Avilés]]) is a meeting point. "Saint Nicholas of Bari" or "Capilla de los Alas" in Romanesque and Romanesque-Gothic style, respectively; Palacio de Balsera, in Modernist style or St. Thomas of Canterbury church (dating from the 13th century) are examples which show the historical patrimony to be found in the city.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} The [[Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre|Centro Niemeyer]], designed by the Brazilian architect [[Oscar Niemeyer]], is an example of contemporary architecture in Asturias.

The [[Picos de Europa]] National Park, and other parts of the Asturian mountain range: The Picu Urriellu mountain (2519 m or 8262&nbsp;ft), also known as ''El Naranjo de Bulnes'', is a molar-shaped peak which, reputedly, glows orange in the evening sun, hence its name. Weather permitting, it can be viewed from Camarmeña village, near Poncebos, south of Arenas de Cabrales.

The shrine to the Virgin of [[Covadonga]] and the mountain lakes (''[[Lakes of Covadonga|Los Lagos]]''), near [[Cangas de Onís]]: Legend has it that in the 8th century, the [[Our Lady of Covadonga|Virgin]] blessed Asturian Christian forces with a well-timed signal to attack Spain's Moorish conquerors, thereby taking the invaders by surprise in the [[Battle of Covadonga]]. The ''[[Reconquista]]'' and eventual unification of all Spain is therefore said to have started in this very location.<ref>{{Citation |title=Covadonga, la batalla que cambió la historia de España |date=2022-05-27 |url=https://www.rtve.es/play/videos/panorama-regional/covadonga-la-batalla-que-cambio-la-historia-de-espana/6549431/ |language=es |access-date=2022-08-11 |archive-date=2022-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811125825/https://www.rtve.es/play/videos/panorama-regional/covadonga-la-batalla-que-cambio-la-historia-de-espana/6549431/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Paleolithic]] art in the caves of Asturias is a declared [[World Heritage Site]] with the [[Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain|Paleolithic Art of Northern Spain]].

Asturias also has examples of [[Industrial archaeology|industrial heritage]] as a consequence of its industrial activities in the 19th and 20th centuries. It had metallurgical and chemical factories, mines, bridges and railways, including in the towns of [[Langreo]], [[Mieres]] and [[Avilés]].

The Asturian coast: especially the beaches in and around the summer resort of [[Llanes]], the Playa del Silencio near [[Cudillero]] fishing village, or the "white" village of [[Luarca]] ([[Severo Ochoa]] hometown).

===Other places of interest===
[[File:Teitu en Somiedo.jpg|thumb|Traditional ''Teito'' in [[Somiedo]] Natural Park]]
* Ceceda village: east of [[Oviedo]] along the N634 road. Of particular interest in this exemplary settlement are the traditional ''[[Hórreo|horreos]]'' (grain silos), raised on stilts so as to keep field mice from getting at the grain.
* The [[Dobra (Sella)|Dobra River]]: south of [[Cangas de Onís]], known for its unusual colour.
* The ''senda costera'' (coastal way) between Pendueles and [[Llanes]]: This partly paved nature route takes in some of Asturias' most spectacular coastal scenery, such as the noisy ''bufones'' ([[blowhole (geology)|blowholes]]) and the Playa de [[Ballota (Cudillero)|Ballota]].
* [[Caldoveiro Peak]], a scenic mountain hiking area
* The unusual rock formation on the beach at Buelna village: east of [[Llanes]]. Best viewed at low tide.

==Culture==

===Architecture===
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2015}}
Asturias has a rich artistic legacy that emphasizes [[Romanesque art|Romanesque]] (''[[Asturias Arts]]'') indigenous architecture with monuments like [[Santa María del Naranco]], [[Santa Cristina de Lena]] and [[San Miguel de Lillo]]. These monuments have a Ramirense Romanesque style (due to [[Ramiro I of Asturias|Ramiro I]]) or [[San Julián de los Prados]], known as Santullano ([[Oviedo]]) of the Alfonsino pre-Romanesque style (due to [[Alfonso II of Asturias|Alfonso II]]), which are all in Oviedo. Other examples of architecture are Villaviciosa's church, [[San Salvador de Valdediós]] (commonly known by the Asturians as "Conventín"), and the church of San Salvador de Priesca. Another example is [[Cabranes|Cabranes']] [[San Julian de Viñón]].

The [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] style is very present, since all Asturias is crossed by one of the [[Camino de Santiago]] routes, which highlights the [[Monastery of San Pedro de Villanueva]] (near [[Cangas de Onis]]), the churches of [[Church of San Esteban (Aramil)|San Esteban de Aramil]] ([[Siero]]), [[Church of San Juan (Amandi)|San Juan de Amandi]] ([[Villaviciosa, Asturias|Villaviciosa]]) and Santa María de Junco ([[Ribadesella]]).

The [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] style is not as abundant, but there are good examples of this style, such as the [[Oviedo Cathedral|Cathedral of San Salvador]] in Oviedo.

The [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] style is more present by means of palace architecture, with such notable examples as the Palace of Camposagrado and Velarde - the latter seat of [[Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias]]. The Baroque style stands out in public civil engineering and bridge tolls ([[Olloniego]]); the milestones, the chairs or seats present along the road to Madrid and the resort of Caldas de Priorio (Oviedo) building.
[[File:CentroNiemeyer92.jpg|thumb |[[Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre]]]]

In 1985, the [[UNESCO]] declared the pre-Romanesque monuments and the [[Oviedo Cathedral|Cathedral of Oviedo]] as [[World Heritage Site]]s.

In popular architecture, the traditional granaries in Asturias, called ''[[hórreo]]s'', are known for their demographic extension and their functional evolution, its basic characteristic being its mobility: it can be easily dismounted and transported to another location. The Panera is the evolution of the hórreo, with examples exceeding {{convert|100|m2|0|abbr=off}} of area covered. The purpose of the horreo is to store objects and crops. With the arrival of maize and the beans, they were endowed with exterior corridors and railings for drying the harvests.

Asturias is home to the only architectural work in Spain (as well as the largest in Europe) of the Brazilian architect and disciple of [[Le Corbusier]]; [[Oscar Niemeyer]]: the [[Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre]]. The architectural project was donated to the Principality by the architect, who was awarded the [[Prince of Asturias Award|Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts]], in the XXV edition of these awards. Niemeyer's project combined several different elements, and projected an open space, a place for education, culture and peace.

In the capital of the Principality stands one of the most representative buildings of modern architecture, the [[Palace of Congresses of Oviedo]], by the Spanish architect [[Santiago Calatrava]], who also awarded the Prince of Asturias of Award for the Arts in 1999.

Special importance has been placed in recent years on the recovery of [[industrial heritage]] through various routes and industrial museums, especially in the central area of the region.

===Festivals and holidays===
Some of the most famous festivals in Asturias take place in the small town of [[Llanes]]. These festivals celebrate the important saints and the Virgin Mary adored by the town. The associations that prepare the festivals have a rivalry between them and each year they try to outdo each other with more impressive shows. The three most important are the festival of San Roque (St. Roque) held on the 16th of August, the festival of Nuestra Señora Virgen de La Guia (Our Lady, Virgin Mary, the Guide) held on the 8th of September, and the festival of Santa Maria Magdalena (St. Mary Magdalene) held on the 22nd of July. The Magdalena is well known for its march of logs where boys as young as 3 and men carry logs through the town until they reach the end point and start a large bonfire.

[[File:Traditional_Asturian_Dress.jpg|thumb|upright|Traditional Asturian dress being worn during a major festival in [[Llanes]]]]

===Food and drink===
{{main|Asturian cuisine}}
[[File:Fabada y sidra.jpg|thumb|''Fabada asturiana'' and sidra (cider), a typical dish of Asturias]]
While Asturias is especially known for its [[seafood]], the most famous regional dish is ''[[Fabada Asturiana|fabada asturiana]]'', a rich stew typically made with large white [[broad bean|beans]] (''fabes''), shoulder of [[pork]] (''lacón''), black pudding (''[[morcilla]]''), and spicy [[sausage]] (''[[chorizo]]'').

[[Apple]] groves foster the production of the region's traditional alcoholic drink, a natural [[cider]] (''sidra''). Since it is natural and bottled without gas, it produces a weak carbonation, and when Asturian cider is served, it is poured in a particular way, ''el escanciado'': the bottle is held above the head allowing for a long vertical pour, causing the cider to be aerated as it splashes into the glass below. After drinking most of the content, it is customary to splash a little out onto the ground, as a way to clean the glass of any [[lees (fermentation)|lees]] for the next serving. Traditionally, the same glass is refilled and passed around, with everyone drinking from it in turn.

Asturian [[cheese]]s, especially [[Cabrales cheese|Cabrales]], are also eaten throughout Spain and beyond; Asturias is often called "the land of cheeses" (''el país de los quesos'').

===Sport===
{{Main|Sport in Asturias}}
Asturias has two main football teams: [[Real Sporting de Gijón|Sporting de Gijón]] and [[Real Oviedo]], which have played over 35 seasons in [[La Liga]]. Other current notable sports teams are [[Oviedo CB]] (basketball) and [[AB Gijón Jovellanos]] (handball).

Racing driver [[Fernando Alonso]] is a two-time [[Formula One]] world champion, two-time [[24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]] winner and [[FIA World Endurance Championship|FIA World Endurance]] winner. He races with Asturias' flag colours and the Asturian cross on his helmet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Nov 2017 |title=Fernando Alonso Me and My Lid |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/f1-racing-uk/20171101/282591673169991 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226141814/https://www.pressreader.com/uk/f1-racing-uk/20171101/282591673169991 |archive-date=26 Dec 2019 |access-date=30 Jun 2024 |website=PressReader}}</ref> Cyclist [[Samuel Sánchez]] won a gold at the Olympic games. Football players from Asturias include World Cup winner [[David Villa]] as well as [[Quini]], [[Luis Enrique (footballer)|Luis Enrique]], [[Juan Manuel Mata]], and [[Santiago Cazorla]], among others.

===Literature===

These are some notable people of Asturian Literature:
* [[Antón de Marirreguera]] (17th century)
* [[Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos]] (1744–1811)
* [[Ramón de Campoamor]] (1817–1901)
* [[Leopoldo Alas|Leopoldo Alas, "Clarín"]] (1851–1901)
* [[Armando Palacio Valdés]] (1853–1938)
* [[Ramón Pérez de Ayala]] (1880–1962)
* [[Alfonso Camín]] (1890–1982)
* [[Alejandro Casona]] (1903–1965)
* [[Carlos Bousoño]] (1923-2015)
* [[Ángel González Muñiz|Ángel González]] (1925–2008)
* [[Corín Tellado]] (1927–2009)
* [[Gonzalo Suárez (director)|Gonzalo Suárez]] (1934)
* [[Rafael Reig]] (1963)
* [[Aurelio González Ovies]] (1964)
* [[Xuan Bello]] (1965–2025)
* [[Jorge Moreno (musician)|Jorge Moreno]] (1973)

==Music==
[[File:Al son de la gaita.jpg|thumb|upright|''[[Gaita asturiana]]'']]
[[File:Estación de Valgrande-Pajares.JPG|thumb|right|upright|Valgrande-Pajares ski resort]]

The music of Asturias is varied. The most characteristic instrument in traditional music is the [[Gaita asturiana|Asturian bagpipe]], or ''Gaita asturiana'', which has a single drone.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pibgyrn.com/index.php?title=d=31&m=07&y=07&category=7 |publisher=Pibgyrn.com |access-date=2010-04-26 |title=Practical guide to making pibgyrn by Gerard KilBride |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402111742/http://www.pibgyrn.com/index.php?title=d%3D31&m=07&y=07&category=7 |archive-date=2012-04-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Sergio y Pablo Arce |url=http://www.asturies.com/viesca/gaita/ |title=La Gaita Asturiana |publisher=Asturies.com |access-date=2010-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420023231/http://www.asturies.com/viesca/gaita/ |archive-date=2010-04-20 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The bagpipe is often accompanied by the hand drum, whistles and accordion.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional folk music, and several music ensembles have gained regional and international recognition for their ethnomusicological study and presentation of indigenous Asturian music. Notable examples include traditional pipers such as Xuacu Amieva and Tejedor and fusionist José Ángel [[Hevia]] (whose music video<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUA3sdyZ_Pw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/qUA3sdyZ_Pw |archive-date=2021-10-30 |title=Hevia - Busindre Reel (High Quality) |publisher=YouTube |date=2009-06-03 |access-date=2015-08-01}}{{cbignore}}</ref> provides views of both the gaita and the Asturian landscape), and the groups [[Llan de Cubel]], [[Xera (band)|Xera]], Nuberu and Felpeyu.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.folkworld.de/2/llan.html |title=FolkWorld Article: Llan de Cubel |publisher=Folkworld.de |access-date=2010-04-26 |archive-date=2017-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110045736/http://www.folkworld.de/2/llan.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=cranky crow |url=http://worldmusiccentral.org/article.php?story=20030906103905488 |title=Celtic music of Spain |publisher=World Music Central |date=2003-09-14 |access-date=2010-04-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630074730/http://worldmusiccentral.org/article.php?story=20030906103905488 |archive-date=2009-06-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityfolk.org/Enewsletter/0606.htm |title=CITYFOLK MONTHLY - June 2006 |publisher=Cityfolk.org |access-date=2010-04-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206175719/http://cityfolk.org/Enewsletter/0606.htm |archive-date=2010-12-06}}</ref> Additionally, numerous rock, ska and heavy metal groups have also found relative success within Asturias, many of which incorporate elements of traditional Asturian music into their sound.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asturshop.com |title=Asturshop |publisher=Asturshop |access-date=2010-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414132706/http://asturshop.com/ |archive-date=14 April 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Anthem===
The Asturian anthem [[Asturias, patria querida]] (Asturias, beloved fatherland), which was a popular song adopted as the region's anthem and formalised by ''Ley 1/1984, de 27 de Abríl''.

===Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias===
The [[Orquesta Sinfonica del Principado de Asturias|Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias]] is the premier orchestra in the Principality of Asturias.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ospa.es/ |title=Inicio - Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias |publisher=Ospa.es |access-date=2015-08-01 |archive-date=2020-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125135753/http://www.ospa.es/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is based in the Auditorio Príncipe Felipe in Oviedo, but also performs in the main concert venues in Gijón and Avilés. [[Rossen Milanov]] is the Music Director.<ref>{{cite web |author=Elaine Schmidt |url=http://www.rossenmilanov.net |title=Rossen Milanov |publisher=Rossenmilanov.net |access-date=2015-08-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629024319/http://www.rossenmilanov.net/ |archive-date=June 29, 2015}}</ref>

===Other===
''[[Leyenda|Asturias]]'' is also the name of the fifth movement of the ''Suite Española, Op. 47'' by Spanish composer [[Isaac Albéniz]]. Nevertheless, the music has little in common with the region's own folklore. Another famous piece of classical music more authentically inspired by the Asturian musical heritage is [[Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov]]'s ''[[Capriccio Espagnol]]'', which prominently features a theme from an ''alborada'', a dance tune traditionally played to celebrate the rising of the sun.

==Notable people==
{{See also|Asturians}}
* [[Carolina del Castillo Díaz]] (1867–1933), Spanish painter
* [[Luis Enrique Martínez García]], former [[FC Barcelona]] captain and manager. he has also been the manager of [[Spain men's national football team|Spain's men's national football team]] since July 9, 2018.
* [[Juan Carreño de Miranda]], [[court painter]]
* [[Fernando Alonso]], [[Formula One]] racing driver, 2005 and 2006 world champion
* [[Leopoldo Alas]] "Clarín", 19th-century author of ''La Regenta'', a seminal work in the Spanish literary canon
* [[Armando Palacio Valdés]], 19th and 20th-century novelist and critic
* [[Francisco Álvarez Cascos]], minister in Spain's government 1996–2000 and 2000–2004
* [[Jose Luis Blanco Vega]] (1928–2005), Jesuit and film critic
* [[Santi Cazorla]], [[Arsenal F.C|Arsenal]] and Spain international football player, European Champion 2008 and 2012
* [[Torcuato Fernández-Miranda]], key lawmaker during the [[Spanish transition to democracy]]
* [[Ángel González Muñiz|Ángel González]], major Spanish poet of the 20th century
* [[Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos]], philosopher, politician, [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] thinker
* [[Pedro Rodríguez de Campomanes]], statesman, economist, and [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] writer
* [[Agustín Argüelles]], liberal politician
* [[Pedro Menéndez de Avilés]] Spanish explorer and founder of [[Saint Augustine, Florida]]
* [[Gonzalo Méndez de Canço]], governor of the [[Spanish Florida]] (1596-1603)
* [[Queen Letizia of Spain]], a native of [[Oviedo]] and wife of [[Felipe VI of Spain|Felipe VI, King of Spain]]
* [[Severo Ochoa]], 1959 [[Nobel Prize]] winner for physiology or medicine
* [[Rafael del Riego]], general and liberal politician
* [[Carmen Polo]], wife of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco
* [[Chechu Rubiera]], cyclist
* [[Victor Manuel]], Spanish singer-songwriter
* [[José Andrés]], chef
* [[Amalia Ulman]], artist
* [[David Villa]], [[New York City FC]] and Spain international football star, European Champion 2008, World Champion 2010
* [[Juan Manuel Mata]], [[Manchester United F.C.]] player, Spain international football star, World Champion 2010 and European Champion 2012
* [[Michu]], former [[Swansea City]] and [[Rayo Vallecano]] player
* [[Xaviel Vilareyo]], national poet, writer and musician
* [[Samuel Sánchez]], cyclist, Olympic gold medalist
* [[Melendi]], is a Spanish pop singer-songwriter
* [[Pablo Carreño]], professional tennis player
* [[Margarita Salas]], scientist
* [[Miguel Díaz-Canel]], President of Cuba

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Don Pelayo.jpg|[[Pelagius of Asturias|Pelagius]], first [[king of Asturias]]
File:Jose Andres.jpg|José Andrés, famous chef
File:Reina Letizia de España.jpg|Queen Letizia, current Queen consort of Spain
File:Honda Racing Thanks Day 2015 - Alonso cropped.jpg|Fernando Alonso
</gallery>

==Events==
* [[Princess of Asturias Awards]]
* [[Asturian miners' strike of 1934|Asturian Revolution]] (Asturian History)
* [[Gijón International Film Festival]] (Entertainment)
* [[Avilés International Cinema and Architecture Festival]] (Entertainment)

==See also==
{{Portal|Spain}}
{{cmn|
* [[Arama 36/37]]: Association for the Recovery of Asturian Military Architecture 1936–1937
* [[Asturian architecture]] between the years 711 to 925
* [[:Category:Asturian mythology|Asturian mythology]]
* [[Asturcón|Asturcón pony]]
* [[Asturian cinema]]
* [[:Category:Churches in Asturias|Churches in Asturias]]
* [[List of oldest church buildings]]
}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== Bibliography ==
* Bowen-Jones, H. and W.B. Fisher. ''Spain: An Introductory Geography''. New York: Praeger, 1966.
* Dresner, Denise, ed. ''Guide to the World''. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1998. S.v. "Asturias"
* ''Encyclopedia Americana''. Danbury: Grolier, 2002. S.v. "Asturias"
* ''Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary''. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 1997. S.v. "Asturias"

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* {{Official website|http://www.asturias.es/}}
* [https://ideas.asturias.es/ Official Asturias cartography]
* [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Orthophotomaps_of_Asturias_(2010) Gallery of orthophotomaps of Asturias (2010)], at [[Wikimedia Commons]]
* [https://www.turismoasturias.es/en/ Official Tourism website of Asturias]

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