Covadonga
Covadonga | |
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Parish | |
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Country | Spain |
Autonomous community | Asturias |
Province | Asturias |
Municipality | Cangas de Onís |
Covadonga (Asturian: Cuadonga, from cova domnica "Cave of Our Lady" [1] ) is 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. With a permanent population of 58 (2008), it consists essentially of the Real Sitio de Covadonga, also known as the "cradle of Spain", a pilgrimage site dedicated to Our Lady of Covadonga and commemorating the Battle of Covadonga of 718/722.
History
The Battle of Covadonga of c. 722 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.
Gallery
- Basilica of Santa María la Real of Covadonga
- Cueva de Santa María
- Hermitage
- Chapter House
- A horse eats grass beside Lake Ercina
See also
References
- ↑ Juan Gil Fernández, José L. Moralejo, Juan Ignacio Ruiz de la Peña, Crónicas asturianas, Universidad de Oviedo, 1985, p. 203.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Covadonga. |