Oviedo

**Oviedo** () is a city in the North of Spain and capital of the Principality of Asturias. In 2020 it had 220,406 inhabitants.

## History

**Oviedo** was founded about 761 A.D. by two monks Maximus and Fromestanus who built a monastery dedicated to Saint Vincent. King Fruela I (757-768) confirmed the foundation and also built a palace and a cathedral dedicated to Saint Saviour.

King Alfonso II the Chaste (791-842) moved the capital of the kingdom of Asturias to **Oviedo** in 791. He enlarged the city with a new cathedral, palaces, churches and city walls. Examples of these buildings which are still existing are: San Julián de los Prados, (_St Julian in the fields_), also called _Santullano_, the head of the church dedicated to San Tirso, (_Saint Thyrsus_), and the Cámara Santa, (_Holy Chamber_) which is a chapel which belonged to the palace of the king.
During this period, it was discovered the tomb of the Apostle St James. The king sponsored and create the St James's Way to Santiago de Compostela in order to improve communications of the city and the kingdom as a way to open them to new ideas and influences from the rest of Europe. Its known that ambassadors from Charlemagne or Carles the Great visited Oviedo at the beginning of s. IX.

King Ramiro I (842-850) built the most important and brilliant buildings of the Kingdom of Asturias: Santa María del Naranco, (_St Mary of Naranco_), a hall for the king's rest, and San Miguel de Lillo, (_St Michael of Lillo_). These buildings are at the top of the Pre-Romanesque Asturian Art.

King Alfonso III the Great (866-910), built the only civil building of this period, the water fountain La Foncalada.

King García I (910-914) moved the capital of the kingdom to León in 910. Since then, the bishops of Oviedo will take the responsibility of the development of the city and also the population and the importance of the city decreased. Even the St James's Way moved to León and **Oviedo** was left apart.

## Geography

Oviedo is in the middle of Asturias. The city is about 232 meters high. It is near Avilés and Gijón, the other large cities in Asturias.

## Culture

The Arts Academy of Oviedo started in the 17th century.

Each year since 1981, Oviedo hosts _Princess of Asturias/Prince of Asturias Awards_. In 2004, UNESCO said they were of "exceptional contribution to the cultural heritage of Humanity". In 2015, Wikipedia was given the International Cooperation Award.

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Oviedo
- **settlement type**: Municipalities of Spain, Municipality
- **image flag**: Uvieu_flag.svg
- **image shield**: Escudo_de_Oviedo.svg
- **pushpin map**: Spain Asturias#Spain
- **subdivision type**: List of sovereign states, Country
- **subdivision name**: Spain
- **subdivision type1**: Autonomous communities of Spain, Autonomous community
- **subdivision name1**: Asturias
- **subdivision type2**: Provinces of Spain, Province
- **subdivision name2**: Asturias
- **elevation m**: 232
- **area total km2**: 186.65
- **population demonym**: Asturian
- **population density km2**: auto
- **blank name sec1**: Languages of Spain, Official language(s)
- **blank info sec1**: Spanish language, Spanish
- **timezone**: Central European Time, CET
- **utc offset**: +1
- **timezone dst**: Central European Summer Time, CEST
- **utc offset dst**: +2
- **postal code type**: List of postal codes in Spain, Postal code
- **postal code**: from 33001 to 33013
- **area code type**: Telephone numbers in Spain, Dialing code