Oviedo

Asturian, Uviéu) is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It has 202,938 inhabitants (2002).

Oviedo is the commercial and business capital, and the administrative and university centre of the region.

History

Little could the monks Máximo and Fromestano, founders of the city in 761, have suspected that their choice of a hill in the centre of Asturias would give raise to an urban, commercial, ecclesiastic and military life that has lasted for more than one thousand two hundred years. That first settlement was to be soon completed with the construction of a small church dedicated to San Vicente.

King Fruela I, the fourth of the Asturian monarchs, was the first decided promoter of the city as may be witnessed by his construction of both a palace and a nearby church. Nevertheless, Oviedo owes to Alfonso II, The Chaste (791-842) its construction as a capital city and ruling seat as a result of the moving of the court from Pravia and the creation of the Pilgrim?s Route to Santiago de Compostela, a mayor event in the history of Oviedo, a church dedicated to The Saviour, the Cathedral of San Salvador, and a royal palace formed the nucleus and motive power of Oviedo.

During this period the city becomes the epicentre of the Asturian art original and unique architectural expression, inheritor of Visigothic, Oriental and Nordic Traditions, which was to reach its high point during the reign of Ramiro I.

The moving of the royal court to León, after the death of Alfonso III, The Great, links the life of the city to the relics preserved in its cathedral and the passing of pilgrims that visit El Salvador, and continue on their way to Santiago de Compostela. The following centuries (XII-XVI witness the development of the medieval city, the outlines of which are still preserved today, the construction of the wall, a devastating fire which took place on Christmas Eve in 1521, and the formidable aqueduct works, known as Los Pilares, constructed in order to provide the city with water throughout the XVI century.

The foundation of the Literary University by Fernando de Valdés Salas, at the beginning of the XVII century, opened Oviedo to a progressive urban expansion, further impulse in the XVII by the city nobility and the construction of remarkable palaces; in the XIX century by industrial growth and the suburban development of Uría Street, and finally in the XX century by administrative and commercial development.

At the present Oviedo is the capital of the Principality of Asturias and maintains its vocation as a university and administrative service city. Business and commerce has become its fundamental economic sector. Today, Oviedo is a city with an outstanding international influence through the Prince of Asturias Awards, annually conceded in the Campoamor Theatre, and also as a result of the International Campus, attended by many world renowned personalities.

Architecture

• Cathedral of San Salvador, from 14th century, founded in 1388 over the chapel founded in the 8th century.
• Cámara Santa de Oviedo. Datinf from 802. It is located in the Cathedral, and it is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
• Santa María del Naranco palace, 9th century. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
• San Miguel de Lillo (small church), 9th century. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
• Basilica of San Julián de los Prados. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
• La Foncalada. Fountain of the 9th century. It is the only preserved Preromanesque civil work in the whole of Europe. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
• The University of Oviedo was founded in 1604 and inaugurated September 21, 1608, the feast of Saint Matthew. It was funded by the terms of the will of D. Fernando Valdés Salas.
• Town Hall (Casa Consistorial). Dates from 1662.
• La Balesquida Chapel (XIII century). Repeatedly restored in the XVII, XIX and XX centuries. It is dedicated to the Virgin of Hope.
• House of the Llanes (XVIII century). It is the best Baroque facade in the whole of Asturias.
• Deán Payarinos' House (XX century). A building of eclesiastic style it houses the Eduardo Martiner Torner Conservatory.
• The Monastery of San Vicente (VIII century). Present day, home of the Archaeological Museum of Asturias.
• The Convent Church of Santo Domingo (XVI century). One of the monastic settlements outside the city walls.
• El Fontán (XVII-XVIII centuries). A monumental unit formed by an XVIII century porticoed square. It was reconstructed in 1998.

Culture

Oviedo is the headquarter of the galardon called Premios Príncipe de Asturias.

It inspired the fictional city of Vetusta in Leopoldo Alas' La Regenta.

Sports

• Real Oviedo football team.
• Baloncesto Oviedo basket team.