Oviedo in 1 Day: all you need to know

The capital of Asturias is a beautiful city with a unique gastronomy and unparalleled landscapes. If you are touring the north of the peninsula and have planned to spend a day in this city, check out this itinerary to know what are the best things to do in Oviedo during a visit.

This is a very complete itinerary in which you can see the main sights of the Asturian capital.

Your day tour in Oviedo starts in the old part of the city. It is here that you will find the Plaza del Fontán, one of the most iconic places in Oviedo. This colonnaded square is the perfect place to enjoy a well-served cider. Also, if you go on a weekend, you may be lucky enough to coincide with one of the folk groups that dance and sing traditional music in the square.

Very close to the square is the Fontán market, a food market where you can find all kinds of typical products of Asturian gastronomy, from fish to meat, cheese and sausages. If you travel to Oviedo on a Thursday, Saturday or Sunday, you will be pleased to know that a traditional street market is held around the market.

Just a minute's walk from the Fontán market, in the Plaza de la Constitución, is where you will find the beautiful Oviedo City Hall.

This square is usually a very busy place for tourists and locals of the city. In the Town Hall square itself is the Tourist Office, where you can ask for some information in case you need it. In addition, the Town Hall also shares space with the church of San Isidro el Real.

This is one of the oldest parishes in the city, dating back to 1200. Initially, the church was located in the neighborhood of La Viña, in what is now known as the Plaza del Paraguas. However, it was later moved to the site of the old Jesuit church of San Matías. What was the façade of the church can still be seen today in the San Francisco field.

Next to Toledo's City Hall, just a minute's walk away, is another of the city's most famous and busiest squares. Trascorrales square allows you to live an experience in which you can fully immerse yourself in the Asturian culture and see the city beyond the tourist's eye.

In the square you will find a bronze statue of a milkmaid with her donkey, which recalls the importance of this work in Asturian culture. This statue is the work of Manuel Linares.

Formerly, the Fontán market was located in this square. However, at the end of the 19th century, it was moved to the place where it is currently located. The building that was left empty after the move is today a cultural center where exhibitions and events are held.

A 3 minute walk from Trascorrales square, you will find the Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias. Without a doubt, this is a must-see on your day trip to Oviedo. Admission to the museum is free and it contains works by important national and international artists, such as El Greco, Goya, Picasso, Dalí and Sorolla.

Since it is located in a very central location, if you can not see it in its entirety for fear that you lack time for other things, you can always return if you have hours to spare. The opening hours of the museum are from 10:30 to 14:00 hours and from 16:30 to 20:30 hours.

This museum has one of the largest art collections in Spain, with over 15,000 pieces ranging from the fourteenth century to the XXI century. The museum is located in the historic center of Oviedo and occupies a total of three buildings of architectural importance in the Asturian city: The Velarde Palace, the Casa de Oviedo-Portal and the Ampliación building.

The Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias is located next to the Cathedral of San Salvador. At the top of the Cathedral square, you will see a statue in honor of Ana Ozores, protagonist of the novel by writer Leopoldo Alas 'La Regenta', which takes place in Oviedo.

The Cathedral of Oviedo, also known as the Sancta Ovetensis, is one of the greatest Gothic jewels of the Principality of Asturias. Although in the original design the cathedral was to have two towers, due to lack of budget, it only has one.

This has a height of 80 m, divided into 5 floors. In addition, the cathedral has three completely independent naves. The central nave of the cathedral has a width of 10 m and a length of almost 70 m. Inside the Cathedral of Oviedo, there is the Holy Chamber, which was declared a World Heritage Site. Inside the Holy Chamber are kept great treasures such as the Holy Shroud, the Holy Ark, the Ark of the Agates or the Cross of the Angels.

The Plaza de la Escandalera is one of the favorite places for locals to sit and read something or relax in the sun. It is located less than five minutes walk from the Cathedral of Oviedo. This square acts as a junction point between the old part of the city, which is the area you have visited so far, and the commercial area of Oviedo.

In the Escandalera square are some of the most important buildings of the city, such as the Thermometer, the Caja de Asturias or the Casas del Conde. In addition, the Campoamor Theater is also located in this square.

On the other hand, in the square are located some of the most famous sculptures of Oviedo, such as the 'Maternidad', also known as the fat, which is the work of Botero. The Plaza de la Escandalera has not always been called this way, since it began to receive this name at the end of the 19th century. The origin of the name is debated, since it is not entirely certain about the reason for this name.

There are many legends that circulate around this square. If you are a curious person and you like mysteries, I recommend a tour of this theme.

In the Plaza de la Escandalera is the Campoamor Theater, the most important theater in the city. The place opened its doors in 1892 and great artists of the national and international scene have performed there. The Campoamor theater hosts the oldest opera season in Spain. It is here that the Princess of Asturias Awards are held, as well as other events of great importance, such as the Dance Festival or the Film Series.

The theater was built between 1883 and 1892 by the architects López Salaberry and Siro Borrajo Montenegro. This theater occupies the space where the convent of Santa Clara used to be located. Previously, the theatrical plays were housed in the Corral de Comedias del Fontán. However, over the years the space became too small, especially for the bourgeoisie of Oviedo. Therefore, in the late nineteenth century, the new theater was inaugurated.

This activity is one of the best things to do in Oviedo in winter, as you can take shelter from the rain and cold.

The San Francisco field in Oviedo is a beautiful park where the families of the city walk every day. It is located less than five minutes walk from the Campoamor theater. It is one of the best things to do with children in Oviedo and is the great green lung of the city. It has an area of 90,000 m2, of which more than 50,000 are green areas.

The origins of this park date back to the 13th century. At the beginning, the Campo San Francisco de Oviedo was the orchard that corresponded to the Franciscan Monastery, a building now occupied by the General Assembly of the Principality of Asturias. Thus, from the beginning until now, the park has changed quite a lot in its shape. Already in the 16th century, that orchard became a space open to the public.

Besides being able to walk through the park, in this beautiful place full of vegetation you can do a great number of activities. You can go to see the ducks and swans in the pond, visit the ruins of the Romanesque church of San Isidoro, have a snack of chocolate with churros or meet squirrels and peacocks.

In the park there is also a floral calendar that is updated daily. It is very common for tourists to have their picture taken with the date, so keep your camera handy. You will also find a Mafalda sitting on a bench, which is one of the main sculptures in the park.

Mount Naranco is worth a visit on your trip to Toledo. It is located on a hill with an altitude of 636 meters, less than 15 minutes drive from the Campoamor theater. From here you can see the best views of the city and it is a favorite place for locals to enjoy nature and sports activities.

The mountain has hiking trails, cider houses, recreational areas and even riding clubs. At the highest point, there is a recreational area with picnic areas and swings.

However, the aforementioned is not the most important thing about this mountain. What makes you have to visit Mount Naranco on your day trip to Toledo are the monuments on the hillside, as well as Christ the Redeemer.

One of the most important is Santa María del Naranco, one of the main symbols of pre-Romanesque art. This monument has been declared a National Monument and World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its origins date back to the 9th century, under the rule of King Ramiro I. In addition to Santa María del Naranco, on the slopes of the mountain you can also find San Miguel de Lillo, a church belonging to the pre-Roman period.

Gascona Street is about 10 minutes drive from Monte Naranco. In case you want to go on foot, the walk will take you about 45 minutes. The reason why I take you to this street is because it is the street with the most cider bars in Oviedo.

This way, you can end your day in the city in style drinking a good cider and accompanying it with delicious tapas. One of the best cider houses in this street is Villaviciosa, which offers a daily menu and a selection of casseroles.

You can also try La Pumarada cider house, which specializes in seafood and traditional gastronomy. In addition, it is an economical establishment with a great gastronomic quality. If you do not find a place in the previous options, you can also opt for El Ovetense, located between Gascona street and the cathedral.

As you can see, there are many things to do in Oviedo in 1 day. The only thing you should keep in mind is to organize your time well and know the schedules of the different attractions. If you have more time in the city, I also advise you to take a look at the best tours of Oviedo.