National_Geographic_Traveller_UK_June_2017

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
CULTURAL
EXPERIENCES
The Original Way of the Camino de Santiago, or
the Camino Primitivo, takes star billing when it
comes to cultural charms. The 198-mile route
links the capital of Asturias, Oviedo — home
to the El Salvador Cathedral — with Santiago
de Compostela, a magnificent cathedral of
austere elegance and the final resting place of
the Apostle St James. Taking on this walk, you’ll
be tracing the first ever pilgrimage made to
Santiago, undertaken by King Alfonso II in 813.
Picking its way along sedate paths through the
mountains, woodland and pretty towns such
as Las Regueras, Grado and Salas, this is a trek
not short of a view or two. The path eventually
leaves Asturias at the Acebo Pass and
continues into the province of Lugo in Galicia.
Spirituality runs deep here — and to
embrace the whole spirit of Asturias, you
also have to embrace the parties that are
crammed in to the calendar. There’s the
Canoe Festival during the first weekend
of August, where punters descend on the
region to battle it out on the Sella River.
Then there’s July’s Natural Cider Festival
in Nava, where you can indulge in a draught
of cider or two and the Humanitarian
Festival in Moreda; combining gastronomy
and folklore, it’s filled with nostalgic
charm. Prepare to be blown away, too,
at Antroxu (carnival) in Avilés and Gijón,
where spruced up dancers sashay in line
with booming floats.