Oviedo through its squares

What to see in Oviedo

Many years ago we have to go back to see the first steps of Oviedo, even beyond the eighth century when this incipient city was born today known throughout the world. Named capital of the Kingdom of Asturias by Alfonso II the Chaste, he saw how it would become the first known pilgrim giving rise to what today we come to call the Primitive Way, the oldest of the roads leading to the tomb of the apostle.

Itinerary proposal to visit Oviedo

This route through Oviedo through its squares allows us to visit some of the most emblematic places of the city while we know part of its history immersing ourselves in its streets and squares. Religious and civil buildings that dispute the astonished look of the visitor at the same time that they offer him to know the treasures that many of them keep jealous. Real cultural jewels that are part not only of Oviedo, but also of Asturias and of the history that surrounds us with each step. Treasures that have led to the pilgrimage of thousands of people over the years and are distributed today the protagonism with the important cultural activity that takes place in the city. A route that surely remains scarce if we want to soak completely of the city, but that will serve us to live from the particular perspective of each one the evolution that has had Oviedo throughout the years.

The San Francisco Field

An almost silent witness of the evolution that Oviedo has undergone over the years, this park has seen the monks of the Franciscan convent to which it belonged walk through it, the travellers and visitors who passed through it and of course the Oviedo people who have in this park something more than a green lung of the city. Starting the tour through the history and present of Oviedo in this majestic forest, whose relationship with the city dates back to the thirteenth century, is a pleasure for the senses. The Campo de San Francisco has not been immune to the passage of time that has resulted in a natural space with a wide variety of tree species that add to the specific fauna that inhabits it. It is a real pleasure to visit the Paseo del Bombé, the Paseo de los Curas or the Paseo de la Rosaleda, which will take us to visit the different busts of illustrious and celebrated characters such as the statue of Mafalda, without forgetting the Quisco de la Música, nor its ponds or its fountains such as La Rana, La del Pez, la Angelín or La Cuentona.

Polier Square

It is difficult to say goodbye to such a beautiful corner of Oviedo but we are encouraged by the idea of what still awaits us in the visit. We leave the park next to El Escolarin, leaving the Plaza de la Escandalera on our left, without being able to avoid turning off for a moment and crossing it to approach the well-known Campoamor Theatre. Back to our route we go up the street San Francisco that transports us quickly to our next stop, the Polier Square, not before passing by the historic building of the University of Oviedo. Already in the Polier Square or Fortress Square as it was formerly known, we are surprised by the Palace of Toreno dating from the seventeenth century that together with the Palace of the Audience of the eighteenth century we speak of the importance that this location has had in the history of Oviedo since Alfonso III the Great ordered to build here a fortress for the defense of the city. Currently in this square we can admire the contrast of the different architectural styles of the buildings that compose it.

Alfonso II el Casto Square

We follow the route without changing the straight course that brought us here, to cross the street Eusebio González Abascal the few meters that separate us from our next stop, the Alfonso II el Casto Square. The imposing silhouette of the Cathedral of Oviedo captures all our glances. The unavoidable visit to the Saint Basilica Metropolitan Cathedral Church of San Salvador de Oviedo, whose history goes back to the end of the 13th century, treasures like few others a rich historical and artistic ensemble. The Holy Chamber, the crosses of the Victory and of the Angels, the Box of the Agates or the Holy Ark, together with the Holy Shroud have given worldwide fame to this cathedral. But the Valdecarzana-Heredia Palace or the Parish Church of San Tirso el Real also await us in this square, without forgetting that we are before the starting point and also the end of such illustrious paths as the Primitive Way or the Way of the Savior, followed by not a few pilgrims.

Corrada del Obispo Square

We continue our route leaving the square on the right side of the cathedral, bordering the parish of San Tirso. At the moment the narrow crossing known as the Transit of Santa Bárbara arises before us by which we will continue crossing the limits of the cathedral leaving behind the near museum of Fine Arts of Asturias. This short journey takes us directly to the Corrada del Obispo Square, where the Deán Payarinos House and the Episcopal Palace await us. From this same square and before continuing with our journey we can approach the Archaeological Museum of Asturias, former monastery of San Vicente, without forgetting the nearby church of Santa María La Real de La Corte, closely linked to this former monastery, both located along the street San Vicente that starts from the same square we visited.

Trascorrales Square

We bid farewell to this area of Oviedo's historic centre to head towards our next stop, following the course of Canóniga Street, which takes us back to the nearby Fine Arts Museum building we had left behind. When we reach its height, we will leave it behind us again as we are forced to change course to go down Mon Street in search of the alley that gives access to the next square we are going to visit, which emerges a few metres after crossing this new street. The Trascorrales Square welcomes us with the curious sculpture La Lechera, a careful sculptural work made with great detail of features. Also located in this square is the striking old fish market building, whose oval shape breaks with the straight lines to which Oviedo had accustomed us.

Constitution Square

We leave this square passing under one of the colourful buildings that make it up, and as soon as we get out of it we come across on our right with the Constitution Square towards which we are heading. The upright silhouette of the church of San Isidoro, from the 17th century, welcomes us to this new corner of Oviedo that we are going to visit. In which also is located the singular building that lodges the Consistorial House of Oviedo being several the streets that of the labyrinthine historical helmet of Oviedo arrive until this square communicating it directly with so emblematic places of Oviedo as the Square of Alfonso II the Chaste through the street Cimadevilla that passes under the tower of the clock of the city council ovetense, constructed taking advantage of part of the old wall of the city.

Fontán Square

We continue our route heading towards the eye-catching Fontán market next to the church of San Isidoro, on the land that housed the old school of the Jesuit order, to which this church also belonged. Our attention is quickly drawn to the perfect ensemble of colourful and well-kept buildings next to their arcades. This group of perfectly aligned houses conceals in its interior the singular Fontán Square. Its long history, which dates back to the time when, after passing for being a pleasant place of relaxation or a market of various foods, ended up becoming a typical corral of comedies of the seventeenth century, to become the charming place that today is, essential for anyone visiting Oviedo. From here, through the Fontán street that passes between the square and the market of the same name, we can return without further detours to the nearby San Francisco Field where we begin and end this tour of Oviedo.

Map of the route

This map is a sketch made as an example of the route, in no case represents the best or the only itinerary to follow. Its development has not taken into account the current rules of circulation or the state of the places through which it passes and that could affect its layout.