Oviedo

Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias. It is located in northern Spain.

The city serves as the main administrative and commercial center for the region. It is the second-largest city in Asturias. Currently, it has a population of 220,027 people.

The city sits between the Nalón River and the Nora River. To the north are Las Regueras and Llanera. To the south lie Mieres del Camino and Ribera de Arriba. To the east are Siero and Langreo. To the west are Grado and Santo Adriano.

The geography of Oviedo creates a unique environment. The city center is quite hilly. Altitudes in the city range from 80 to 709 meters above sea level. Some areas sit more than 300 meters above the sea. This elevated position affects the weather. Oviedo has a maritime climate, also known as an oceanic climate. This is similar to the nearby city of Gijón. Even though Oviedo is not on the coast, it feels like the ocean. Two mountain ranges protect the city from strong winds. Monte Naranco sits to the north. The Sierra del Aramo sits to the south.

The history of the region began with the Kingdom of Asturias in 720. This started when a Visigothic aristocrat named Pelagius revolted against Muslim forces. These forces had occupied most of the Iberian Peninsula since 711. The area where Oviedo sits was uninhabited at that time. Tradition says two monks, Máximo and Fromestano, founded the city in 761. They built a small church for Saint Vincent on a hillside. The city had no Roman or Visigothic foundations before this.

Kings shaped Oviedo into a major capital. King Alfonso II The Chaste moved the royal court from Pravia to Oviedo. He established the city as a ruling seat. He also created the Pilgrim's Route to Santiago de Compostela. This made Oviedo a vital stop for travelers. The Cathedral of San Salvador and a royal palace formed the city's nucleus. Alfonso II also built the San Julián de los Prados church. This is one of the best-preserved Asturian churches.

Many monarchs contributed to the city's architecture. King Fruela I was a major promoter of the city. He built a palace and a church. King Ramiro I, who ruled from 842 to 850, continued this work. He built San Miguel de Lillo and Santa María del Naranco. The latter was likely a palace before it became a church.

Ramiro I faced rebellions from the Counts of the Palace. These included leaders named Alroitus and Piniolus. He may have built his palace in the mountains to stay safe. Alfonso III later rebuilt churches after military victories. In 908, he commissioned the "Cross of Victory." This was a gold and jeweled casing for a cross used by Pelagius.

As time passed, the city's importance changed. After Alfonso III died, the royal court moved to León. Kings began to spend more time in the Duero Plains. However, Oviedo remained important because of its religious relics. In the 12th century, Bishop Pelayo de Oviedo was known as "the fabulist." He created many forged royal charters. He did this to help the church of Oviedo. He wanted to gain independence from other archbishops. He also wanted to promote Oviedo as a destination for pilgrims.

Oviedo has faced many challenges through the centuries. A devastating fire occurred on Christmas Eve in 1521. In the 1600s, the founding of the Arts College helped the city expand. The 19th century brought industrial growth and the development of Uría Street.

The 20th century saw significant conflict. In 1934, a miners' strike led to a small civil war. About 50,000 workers used dynamite to capture the city. General Francisco Franco sent soldiers to stop the revolt. This fighting left 3,000 rebels dead. The cathedral was also damaged by a mine. Later, the city survived a three-month siege during the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Today, Oviedo remains a grand center of culture and history.