The population of Avilés is a welcoming and interesting city, with a beautiful and traditional old town. It is among those ideal tourist cities to visit quietly enjoying its corners. It is located a few kilometers from Gijón and Oviedo, so it is a great stop to see its historical complex in a short time.
Let's see what we can find of interest in the city of Avilés, an Asturian city that offers palaces, old houses and a good atmosphere. It is a city that has one of the most beautiful old towns in Asturias, so it is definitely worth stopping at least one day to see it.
Plaza of Spain
The historic center of Avilés is one of its greatest attractions, so we propose to start the walk in its central Plaza de España, which we will easily reach. This square is quite wide and in it we can see the stone building of the Town Hall and also that of the old Ferrera Palace, today converted into a beautiful and luxurious hotel. During the day, this large square houses numerous terraces of the bars in the area, perfect for having a drink. In addition, nearby we will also find restaurants and cider houses where you can taste the star drink of Asturias, cider.
San Nicolás de Bari Church
If we go up the street next to the Ferrera Palace we will find this church and a beautiful grove. In this place is the nice church of San Nicolás de Bari, which dates from the thirteenth century and belongs to the Franciscan monks. Together with the cobbled streets it is a beautiful sight worth seeing. This is what makes this city have an old town worth seeing.
Galiana Street
If you want to enjoy a good atmosphere at dusk, you cannot miss Calle Galiana. A street that continues to have the same charm as in the XNUMXth century, in which we will see a very wide arcaded gallery where there are many places of drinks They serve all kinds of drinks. Nearby you can see some old Indian houses. Although this place is old and can be seen in every house and in the porticoes, the atmosphere is young and lively at night, making it one of the places to have a drink.
Sabugo neighborhood
If you want to continue tasting cider in charming places, you have to go to the Sabugo neighborhood, or neighborhood of the sailors. It is the only one that in the Middle Ages was found outside the city walls. Today it is a small neighborhood with a lot of charm where you can find old houses converted into tapas bars where you can have a drink at night or during the day. In this place we will find the old church of the city, the one that in the XNUMXth century became too small for the bourgeoisie and for which they would build another, that of Santo Tomás de Canterbury.
The statue of La Monstrua
With these peculiar name was known to Eugenia Martinez Vallejo, a woman who was born with a disease that led to severe obesity. He was therefore part of the court of Carlos II as those people who served to entertain and amuse the nobles. We can find in the street of the Station the statue of this character that attracts so much attention. It is undoubtedly one of the statues with which tourists are most photographed.
Ferrera Park
As if it were a big city, Avilés also has its large green park, a ideal place to walk and rest. It is a park created in the English and French styles. Long ago it was the park used by the upper classes as a place of recreation due to its proximity to the Ferrera Palace. Today it is a public area that everyone can enjoy.
Niemeyer Center
Although the vast majority of the places of interest in Avilés are in its old town, this city is undergoing renovations. Proof of this is the Niemeyer Center, which is a cultural space created by the Brazilian architect Niemeyer. It is a place where culture and architecture mix, in a work that pretends to be an ode to nature. It has a large square, an auditorium, the dome that is the exhibition center, a multipurpose building and a tree-shaped lookout tower. Everything is inspired by elements of nature represented in modern architectural works. In addition to enjoying an exhibition or work, we can see a peculiar place that contrasts with the old part of the city.
Eating in Avilés
Tasting cider is essential, but you also have to enjoy Asturian gastronomy. Places like Tierra Astur Avilés, some cider houses where you can taste dishes such as sausages or cheeses along with a glass of cider.