Covadonga Castle

This castle is a cathedral, the basilica of Santa María la Real of Covadonga

Covadonga Castle in fog, located in Spain. Photo by Scott Wilson.

Basilica of Santa María la Real of Covadonga

Covadonga (Asturian: Cuadonga, from Latin: Cova Dominica, "Cavern of the Lady", Arabic: صخرة بلاي‎‎ Ṣakhrat Bilāy ("the rock of the affliction or of the putting to the test")) is a village and one of 11 parishes in Cangas de Onís, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northwestern Spain. It is situated in the Picos de Europa mountains.

In 722 AD, Iberian Christians won a namesake battle over the Muslims in Covadonga. This was the first Christian victory in the Iberian Peninsula over the Arabs and Berbers invading from north Africa under the Umayyad banner, and is often considered to be the start of the 770-year effort to expel Muslim rulers governing the Iberia during the Reconquista. Our Lady of Covadonga is a significant Marian shrine. The Spanish Army has, over the years, named several of its units "Covadonga".

In the mountains above the town are located the two lakes of Covadonga, Enol and Ercina, and the road leading to the lakes is often featured in the Vuelta a España bicycle race.

Sanctuary

The Sanctuary of Covandonga is a monument dedicated to "Our Lady of Covadonga" that commemorates the Battle of Covadonga. It is composed by:

Basilica of Santa María la Real de Covadonga, church built in the 19th century designed by Roberto Frassinelli.

Holy Cave, where lies Kings Pelagius and Alfonso I.

Collegiate church of Nuestra Señora de Covadonga, built in the 16th century and declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1884.

Montasterio de San Pedro

Esplanade, with the Museum of the Real Sitio de Covadonga.