Avilés is a city in
AsturiasThe Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
,
SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Avilés is with
OviedoOviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
and
GijónGijón , officially Gijón / Xixón, is a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mention it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history...
, one of the main towns in the Principality of Asturias.
The town occupies the flattest land in the municipality, in a land that belonged to the sea, surrounded by small promontories, all of them having an altitude of less than 140 metres. Situated in the Avilés estuary, in the Northern Central area of the Asturian coast, west of
PeñasPeñas is a location in the La Paz Department in Bolivia.-References:...
Cape, it has an national seaport and is an
industrialIndustry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
city. It is close to popular beaches such as Salinas.
Climate
The area experiences Atlantic, warm summers with both overcast and sunny days. In winter the weather is moderate, with significant rains and wind, although sometimes the cold climate of Asturias results in snowfall at sea level. The temperature is rarely below zero or over 30°C.
History
Archaeological excavations have shown that the area was already settled in the upper palaeolithic era.
The existence of the town proper date is documented only in the early Middle Ages, although the name "Avilés" is thought to come from a local
RomanThe Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
landowner,
Abilius.
The first well known document is an endowment of two churches by Asturias King
Alfonso IIIAlfonso III , called the Great, was the king of León, Galicia and Asturias from 866 until his death. He was the son and successor of Ordoño I. In later sources he is the earliest to be called "Emperor of Spain"...
, in 905. During the
Middle AgesThe Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, it was one of the most important ports of the
Biscay BayThe Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
, trading mainly with
FrenchThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
ports, the main trade was salt. At this time, it had two nuclei: a fishermen's district, Sabugo, and the aristocratic centre, La Villa, standing each other across a small water inlet at the site of present-day Avilés' main Park. La Villa was surrounded by strong
wallsA defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
, which demonstrated its strategic and commercial importance. On 15 January 1479 the
Catholic MonarchsThe Catholic Monarchs is the collective title used in history for Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. They were both from the House of Trastámara and were second cousins, being both descended from John I of Castile; they were given a papal dispensation to deal with...
granted a free market on each Monday of the year, which still takes place. The importance of the town as a naval centre is supported by the building of ships with wood harvested from nearby forests, and with the participation of local sailors in the conquest of
SevilleSeville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
by the
CastilianKingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
army, which is reflected in Avilés's
coat of armsA coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
.
It is the birthplace of
Pedro Menéndez de AvilésPedro Menéndez de Avilés was a Spanish admiral and explorer, best remembered for founding St. Augustine, Florida in 1565. This was the first successful Spanish foothold in La Florida and remained the most significant city in the region for several hundred years. St...
, a soldier on the army of
Felipe IIPhilip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, who explored
FloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the 16th century and founded in 1565 the first successful (continuously populated) European town in what is now the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
,
San AugustínSt. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
(now St. Augustine, Florida). St. Augustine and Avilés are now sister cities. Avilés is also the birthplace of Juan Carreño Miranda, court painter to the king
Charles IICharles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
.
The estuary, which had been closed to navigation since the early modern era, was partially drained and cleared in the 19th century. The water inlet dividing the place was covered, so that the two nuclei, Sabugo and La Villa, could be joined together. Then the city began to grow outside the medieval wall, which had been demolished in 1818. In the 20th century, there was an enormous growth in population due to the arrival of several large factories to the town. In 1953 were started the first earthworks for the construction of the factory of ENSIDESA, a large steel mill, currently
AceraliaAceralia was a large Spanish steel producer formed in 1997 by restructuring of a group formed from earlier mergers of the steel producers ENSIDESA and Altos Hornos de Vizcaya....
(part of ArcelorMittal); other companies in the area are Cristalería Española, which together with ENDASA, currently
AlcoaAlcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...
, transformed Avilés into one of Spain's industrial centres. Nowadays, the city is trying to focus on new industries, particularly cultural tourism, and recover its antique flavour.
Architecture
Sights include:
- St. Thomas of Canterbury church (dating from the 13th century)
- Church of Saint Nicholas of Bari (12th-13th century), in Romanesque
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
style
- Palacio de Valdecarzana, the sole example of civil medieval architecture in the town
- Palacio de Llano Ponte (1700–1706)
- Baroque Palacio de Camposagrado, fortified in its north façade against the English pirates
- Capilla de los Alas, a 14th century funerary monument in Romanesque-Gothic transition style
- Old church of Sabugo (13th century)
- Palacio de Balsera, in Modernist style
- Palacio Valdés Theatre
The Palacio Valdés Theatre is located in Avilés, Principality of Asturias in Northern Spain.The building was designed by the architect Manuel del Busto at the beginnings of the 20th century...
, in Neobaroque style.
Museums and arts centres
- Black china museum
- Alfercam Museum
Alfercam Museum was a music and automobile museum in Avilés, Asturias, Spain. Its name was a combination of the owners' names: Alfredo and Fernando Campelo. Established 15 December 2006, it was Aviles' first museum and was open Wednesday through Sunday...
, where visitors can find a combination of world musical instrumentas and vintage cars.
- "Casa de la cultura" with the Bances Candamo library, exhibitions gallery, reading and study areas.
- CMAE - Centro municipal de arte y exposiciones - arts and exhibicion centre in El Arbolón area, not far from the town centre.
- Óscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre
The Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre , designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, is a cultural centre of international significance located in Avilés, Asturias ....
,designed by the Brazilian architect Óscar NiemeyerOscar Ribeiro de Almeida Niemeyer Soares Filho is a Brazilian architect specializing in international modern architecture...
. It is a magnet for different personalities, including people who received Prince of Asturias AwardsThe Prince of Asturias Awards are a series of annual prizes awarded in Spain by the Prince of Asturias Foundation to individuals, entities or organizations from around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, and public affairs....
, the Nobel prizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
, musicians, actors and actrecess, the United NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, etc.
.
Sculptures
Throughout the town there are different sculptures in various styles: the set of sculptures in El Muelle park, specially the
Pedro Menendez sculpture and
La foca (the seal); the
Ruta del acero set of sculptures along the Avilés estuary;
Avilés sculpture, and different ones such as:
Marta y María,
El hombre que escucha la piedra (the man who listens to the stone),
El eslabón,
Entre bambalines, etc.
Feasts, festivals and traditions
Some of the most famous are:
- In autumn:
- Feast of the Amagüestu (Autumn).
- In winter:
- The Antroxu (Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
in Asturian language) which includes the Descenso Fluvial de Galiana (Galiana's River Descent) (winter).
- In spring:
- Feast of the Bollo (the bollo is a traditional cake).
- Comida en la Calle (Lunch out in the street).
- In summer:
- Feast of Saint Augustine, Avilés' patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
.
- The Interceltic Festival of Avilés
The Interceltic Festival of Avilés is celebrated at the beginning of the summer in Avilés and the surrounding area in Asturias, Spain and was founded in 1997...
, which takes place in summer, with people coming from BrittanyBrittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, IrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Galicia and Asturias itself.
Parishes
- Avilés
Avilés is one of the six parishes in Avilés, a municipality of the same name, within the autonomous community and province of Asturias, in northern Spain.http://www.sadei.es Nomenclátor de entidades de población de Asturias 2008 With a population density of 8,996 inhabitants per km², it is...
- Corros
Corros is one of six parishes in Avilés, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.It is in size with a population of 618 .-Villages:...
- Entreviñas
Entreviñas is one of six parishes in Avilés, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.It is in size with a population of 1,107 .-Villages:...
- Laviana
Laviana is one of six parishes in Avilés, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.It is in size with a population of 17 ....
- Miranda
Miranda is one of six parishes in Avilés, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.It is in size with a population of 1,435 .-Villages:...
- Navarro
Navarro is one of six parishes in Avilés, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.It is in size with a population of 1,521 .-Villages:...
Notable people
- Pedro Menéndez de Avilés
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés was a Spanish admiral and explorer, best remembered for founding St. Augustine, Florida in 1565. This was the first successful Spanish foothold in La Florida and remained the most significant city in the region for several hundred years. St...
, admiral and founder of the oldest city in the U.S., St. Augustine
- Juan Carreño de Miranda
Juan Carreño de Miranda was a Spanish painter of the Baroque period.Born in Avilés in Asturias, son of a painter with the same name, Juan Carreño de Miranda. His family moved to Madrid in 1623, and he trained in Madrid during the late 1620s as an apprentice to Pedro de Las Cuevas and Bartolomé Roman...
, painter
- Horacio Álvarez Mesa
Horacio Álvarez Mesa was a Spanish politician, lawyer and journalist.He was born in Avilés on the 30 November 1881, the son of Florentino Álvarez Mesa and Carmen Menendez-Valdes Muñiz. Between 1900 - 1901 he studied and Philosophy and Letters in the Central University of Madrid, He then studied...
, journalist and politician
- Yago Lamela
Santiago Lamela Tobío is a former Spanish athlete competing in the long jump. His greatest year was 1999, when he jumped 8.56 during the indoor season to win the silver medal at the 1999 World Indoor Championships...
, athlete
- David Álvarez Aguirre
David Álvarez Aguirre , better known as Kily, is a naturalized Equatoguinean football defender. He currently plays for Langreo in the Spanish Tercera División .-External links:* at Facebook.com* *...
, footballer (naturalized EquatoguineanEquatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
)
Sister cities
St. AugustineSt. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
, Florida, USA
Saint-NazaireSaint-Nazaire , is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.The town has a major harbour, on the right bank of the Loire River estuary, near the Atlantic Ocean. The town is at the south of the second-largest swamp in France, called "la Brière"...
, France
El AaiúnEl-Aaiún , is a city in Western Sahara founded by the Spanish in 1928. Administered by Morocco since 1976, El-Aaiún is the capital of what the Moroccan government call the region of Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, and POLISARIO call Occupied Territories...
, Western Sahara
CárdenasCárdenas is a surname generally of Spanish origin.FAMILY ORIGIN:The family name Cardenas is a local surname which came from the region of La Rioja, Spain...
, Cuba
External links