Exploring the City of Oviedo, Spain

Today marks the two-year anniversary of our concert in Oviedo, in the Principality of Asturias, Spain. Beyond the significance of performing in such an important theater—where other great classical musicians have made our country proud—Oviedo brought joy and peace to all of us. We were here for three full days, and that alone meant a lot, since we don’t connect with many cities in Spain quite like we do with this one. Oviedo is a very modern and elegant city, but it doesn’t neglect its green spaces, which are well-maintained and very beautiful. We had the chance to explore it every day, and I took so many photos that I think this is already my third post about our experience there.

From the moment we got off the bus, we knew it was a very special place, and I think it was the city in Spain that surprised me the most in terms of how different it is from my own country. The breeze was really cold and biting during that second week of spring in 2024, but that didn’t stop us from going out to explore every corner. We were here on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week, which should have been peak season, but the streets were completely empty—and that was the general impression we got throughout the country. Although there’s a lot of tourism, people stick to certain activities and visit places of interest without making much of a fuss.

Our concert in Oviedo took place on the first day—Monday, March 25th—at the Teatro Filarmónica. However, we arrived very early that day, which is why we didn't do much exploring in Santiago de Compostela; there was, however, ample time in Oviedo for rest, music, and sightseeing. Our concert was scheduled for quite late in the day, which gave us the opportunity to take a stroll around the area surrounding the Gran Hotel España on Calle Jovellanos. The city's historic quarter, the Cathedral of San Salvador, and the Campo de San Francisco are all located nearby—just to highlight a few of the places you could visit if you choose to stay here.

Our strategy of staying in Oviedo was to save a little money, since the very next day—Tuesday the 26th—we had another concert, this time in Comillas, Cantabria. Consequently, it made more sense to take a bus trip of about an hour and a half and return once the concert was over. For this reason, we didn't get to explore the Comillas area very much—a place that is even more beautiful than Oviedo, albeit in a different way—though for early risers like my wife and me, that Tuesday offered plenty of opportunity to go out for breakfast, take a stroll, and even do some shopping. It was a very long day, but there is always enough time for those who are eager to do some sightseeing! 😅

I believe the most beautiful and interesting place my wife and I visited was the Campo de San Francisco. It is a truly expansive square in the heart of the city, lush with greenery and featuring a small lake—and it is where we came across Pablo Irrgang’s famous statue of Mafalda. This was the second city where I had a genuine encounter with tulips blooming in the flowerbeds; combined with the sound of the fountains, the rushing water, and the singing birds, the experience makes for a truly delightful visit to the park—a place filled with peace. Here in Caracas, our parks offer that same tranquility, but over in Oviedo, that sense of peace seemed to linger even after you returned to the streets—or at least, that was my impression ❤️

Our last day in Oviedo was not a full one, since we had a concert scheduled for the end of the day in the city of Burgos... Yes—we sang in Santiago de Compostela on Sunday, in Oviedo on Monday, in Cantabria on Tuesday, and in Burgos on Wednesday; it was four consecutive concerts. However, using this city as our central hub—the connecting point between all the others—was crucial for keeping our sanity, not to mention that it was the finest and most beautiful of the cities for stepping out to explore. We had already spent an equal amount of time staying in Granada, and from Holy Thursday through the following Monday, we had been lodged in Madrid—which proved to be the most relaxed period of our entire tour across Spain.

We visited nine cities in Spain, yet we still missed out on many special and internationally renowned places—such as Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Zaragoza, or Granada, to name just a few. However, we realized that every single place there is worthy of being a capital city. I say this because my own country has few large, truly major cities—even though, depending on the region, they are all important to us. There is a notable difference between each Spanish city, and that is precisely what makes the country so special for tourism. I particularly hope to return—and, in fact, to do so on my own terms, without the hustle and bustle of work—though going on tour is, in itself, a soul-uplifting experience. Oviedo—most certainly—is a place in the world well worth visiting; no one could ever regret going there. This post simply falls short of capturing all the wonders you can admire there; it even strikes me as an ideal place to live 🙏

I’ve been sharing these images and stories over the past two weeks, reminiscing about the experiences I lived through at the time—a practice that truly fulfills me. Even though I’m sitting right here in front of my laptop, I feel as though I’m reliving every single moment through the photos and videos I’ve shared. I still have three more cities left to share with you all; if you’d like to learn a bit about them, I invite you to follow my blog—especially if you enjoy my content. Thank you to everyone who reads, appreciates, and supports my work here on Hive. I wish you all a truly special Holy Week; as for me, I’m looking forward to the best possible time over these next few days, which I’ll be spending engaged in one of my favorite activities: traveling! I’ll be sure to share my adventures from this week later on over at Worldmappin 😅