√ Somiedo (Asturias) (Spain): information on the city, what to visit and what to do in Somiedo (Asturias)?
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Somiedo (Asturias)
Coat of arms of Somiedo (Asturias) (Spain)
Population: ~ 1.000
Time difference to London - Time zone GMT/UTC: 1 hour (+/- changes due summertime/daylight saving)
The mountains of Somiedo are a paradigmatic example of well preserved nature in western Europe.
Placed in the heart of the Cantabrian mountains, in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula, there are left very few places in the this corner of the world with the degree of preservation and the quality of the natural habitats of Somiedo.
The last brown bears ...
Somiedo has a wide variety of fauna and flora, and the region is very well known for sheltering a good part of the last brown bears that still inhabit areas of southern Europe.
Natural Park
It is not difficult contemplate the majestic flight of the royal eagle or the vulture, almost any day at any time, while we enjoy one the multiple walks and itineraries of the Natural Park.
Chamois, roe deer and wild boars ...
A lot of chamois inhabit the steepest summits.
Down below, hidden inside the flourishing beech and oak forests, survive big populations of deer, roe deer or wild boars, to mention just a brief example of wild fauna.
The wolfs ...
At night, under a beautiful and cold moon light, in Somiedo region it is still possible today to hear the spine-chilling and mysterious howling of the wolfs.
Eminently rural area
Somiedo is an eminently rural area that still preserves in an exceptional way the natural environment and the traditional architecture.
Las brañas - groups of traditional constructions
One of the most appealing symbols of the Park are the brañas(groups of traditional constructions) related to the seasonal use of the pastures for the cattle.
The Somiedo brañas, with its picturesque roofs are a testimony to a way of life that disappeared decades ago in many other rural mountain areas of Spain and Portugal.
Economy + traditional Asturian cuisine
The Somiedo economy is based on cattle, with a tourist sector which has grown considerably in the last two decades.
In Somiedo you can find hotels, bars and restaurants where you can enjoy the delicious traditional Asturian cuisine.
Los vaqueiros
A part of the population in Somiedo is constituted by the vaqueiros de alzada, men and women that still today have in semi-migrating lifestyle.
Most of the inhabitants of some villages in Somiedo (La Peral, El Puerto, etc.) move to a different dwelling depending on the season.
When cold and the snow arrive ...
In the warmer part of the year (from late April and until November) the vaqueiros inhabit the high altitude brañas, in Somiedo (La Peral, El Puerto, etc.), when cold and the snow arrive, they go down, along with their cattle, to the winter brañas, in lower valleys, in councils places more to the north, closer to the coast (Salas and Belmonte, for example).
Group with its own identity
The vaqueiros have been the object of multiple anthropological studies, and still today, they are group with its own identity.
Until the end of 19th century the vaqueiros were considered like a lower race, different and alien people and were discriminated against. For instance, they were forbidden from occupying the same banks as the rest of the population in the churches.
It isn't difficult to get to the coast
Thanks to huge improvement of the roads in these last years, it isn't difficult to get to the coast, which is accessible in less than one hour by car from Somiedo.
The Asturian coast is in a good state of preservation, and has a lot of impressive cliffs and beautiful beaches.
Oviedo and Gijón nearby
In one hour and fifteen minutes you can get to the major cities in Asturias (Oviedo and Gijón), very amusing, historical and interesting cities.
On the other side of the mountains: Castilla y León
If we move to the south, towards the other side of the mountains, we get into Castilla y León, and we can be in cities like León and Ponferrada in less than one and a half hour, very interesting and monumental cities.
Privileged situation
All this means that Somiedo is really in a privileged situation:
Close to the sea, in the core of the most beautiful mountains of Spain and still not far from nice, beautiful, charming, cities.
For all those who like this and love mountains, nature and authentic things: a real paradise.
