Aviles - Sweet & Salty

Revel in the contrasts so prevalent in Aviles, including the futuristic and historical architecture, and local specialties ranging in taste from sweet to salty. Follow a westerly route to Aviles, an industrial city in the midst of a cultural transformation. The ultimate symbol of Aviles’ futuristic conversion is the Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Center, a gleaming white jewel that Brazilian architect Niemeyer designed to accommodate the arts. Rising above the estuary, “El Niemeyer” as it’s known locally, has become a beloved city icon well worth a photo stop.

Despite Aviles’ passion for the future, the past hasn’t been forgotten, as you’ll see on a walking tour through Old Town. The architecture here tends to be exceptionally colorful with pale sandstone buildings standing next to more fanciful buildings painted in hues of pink, lemon and blue. Landmarks include the 13th-century Church of Sabugo, the pedestrian streets of Galiana and Rivero, Santo Tomas de Canterbury, and gems such as the Municipal Palace on España Square, where many of the older avenues originate.

Then for a literal taste of Aviles, you’ll stop in a bakery known for sweets such as almond-filled puff pastries. The Asturias region is also known for outstanding apple cider, and you’ll have the chance to sample a local variety at a traditional “llagar” where it is produced. The fermented cider, known as “sidra,” is typically poured from a bottle held high overhead so it aerates on its way to the glass, which enhances the flavor and aroma.