Asturias > History
Costa Verde ToursCosta Verde Tours
AsturiasAsturias
PresentationPresentation
HistoryHistory
WeatherWeather
Popular TraditionsPopular Traditions
Useful Telephone NumbersUseful Telephone Numbers
Places of InterestPlaces of Interest
ParksParks
MuseumsMuseums
BeachesBeaches
TheatresTheatres
Sport Sport
ExcursionsExcursions
Lesiure AttractionsLesiure Attractions
ShoppingShopping
NightlifeNightlife
Food and DrinkFood and Drink
Musical FestivalsMusical Festivals
Town MapsTown Maps
HotelHotel
Apartment for rentApartment for rent
HostelHostel
Car rentalCar rental
Property in Costa VerdeProperty in Costa Verde
Learn SpanishLearn Spanish
Travel to Costa VerdeTravel to Costa Verde
AvilésAvilés
Cangas de OnísCangas de Onís
CudilleroCudillero
GijónGijón
LlanesLlanes
LuarcaLuarca
SalasSalas
Learn languages resourcesLearn languages resources
Buy a Property in SpainBuy a Property in Spain
We have the best Costa Verde accomodation and car hire deals!
Make your online reservation fast an easy here:
Find the most economical
Costa Verde Hostel
now
History

The Kingdom of Asturias was the first Christian nation to be established in the Iberian Peninsula after it was conquered by the Islamic Moors in 711.
Don Pelayo, a Visigoth nobleman, established the kingdom by rebelling against the Moorish governor of Asturias in 718. Not long after, at the Battle of Covadonga under Pelayo s leadership, an overwhelming defeat on the Moors was meted out. This event took place in 722, although some sources place it as early as in 718, and others in 721. At some point, Don Pelayo was elected king of a small area which included a mountainous region along northwestern Spain , just west of the Basques who similarly remained independent of Moorish power.

Pelayo
founded a dynasty in Asturias, a reign that survived for centuries and gradually expanded the kingdom's boundaries until all of northwest Iberia was included by around 775. Further expansion of the kingdom to the south took place, about as far as Lisbon, Portugal, during the reign of Alfonso II from 791 to 842.

Asturias became a stronghold of Christian heritage in the period of grandeur that followed. Asturias characterized a pre-Romanesque architectural style that featured intricate decorative elements which can still be seen in the churches of San Salvador de Valdediós, Santa María del Naranco and San Julián de los Prados, which have all been declared Heritage of Mankind by UNESCO.
The kingdom was known as Asturias until 924, when it became the Kingdom of León . It continued under that name until after Ferdinand III became king, and the region was incorporated into the Kingdom of Castile in 1230.

In 1981 it became an autonomous region, with the name of Principado de Asturias ( Principality of Asturias ). Asturias has its own language variety called Bable and their flag is light blue with a cross called Cruz de la Victoria (Cross of Victory). The Cross of Victory jewel is being kept in the Cathedral at Oviedo, the capital of Asturias.

More information
Advertise With Us l Contact Us l Link To Us l Send to a friend l Work With Us l Add to Favorites l
Overseas Directory Enquiries - Maio Properties - CIS Home Insurance
Costa del SolCosta BravaCosta AlmeríaCosta BlancaTravel Guide Spain
© copyright Web site promotion by Internet Advantage, All rights reserved. Costa Verde, Asturias, Spain travel guide 2005