Asturian culture is rich and has deep roots in history. The cultural offer of the Principality includes jewels such as the architecture of Asturian Pre-roman art, the Palaeolithic cave paintings or the Jurassic ichnites found in the cliffs of the Asturian coast, which are among the most important in Europe.
One of the world's architectural jewels is the Asturian Pre-Romanesque, made up of several temples that have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. In addition to these monuments, there is also the Cathedral of El Salvador in Oviedo, an essential stop on the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela, which houses the treasure of the Holy Chamber.
Asturias' cultural heritage is full of traditions linked to life in the countryside, musical sounds of folk and Celtic origin and a rich imaginary of characters and oral and written stories, as well as its own language, Asturian, which is also present in the education system.
Asturias is a dynamic region, with an ambitious cultural offer to satisfy all sensibilities. The University of Oviedo plays a leading role in this sense through the activities organised by its University Extension, which are always universal and free of charge for the whole of Asturian society.
Five Palaeolithic caves with cave paintings and the set of monuments of the Asturian Pre-Romanesque period have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Asturian cultural life offers a full agenda with international events such as the Prince of Asturias Awards Ceremony. The main theatres in the region: Campoamor (Oviedo), Jovellanos (Gijón) and Palacio Valdés (Avilés) have an ambitious programme of theatre, concerts, opera and dance, complemented by the Fine Arts Museum, the Niemeyer International Centre, LABoral Art Centre and the annual Gijón International Film Festival.
The list of popular festivals and traditions is very extensive and shows visitors the character of the Asturian people, who still preserve rites and customs that sometimes go back centuries.
A rich and varied gastronomy
Asturian gastronomy is rich and very traditional. The region's most emblematic dish is fabada, accompanied by cider, the drink par excellence in the Principality. The regional gastronomy is rich in a variety of fish and seafood, excellent quality meats and good garden produce.
Rice pudding, casadielles, and frixuelos are some of the gastronomic delights that can be tasted for dessert. Cheese production is another attraction for the palate, with dozens of varieties produced by artisan cheesemakers.
