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Villaviciosa, is a town and municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias, Spain. It is situated on the central eastern coastline, and borders the Asturian municipalities of Gijón and Siero to the west, Sariego, Nava, Cabranes and Pilo�a to the south and to Colunga to the east. The total area is 271 kms and its population is 14,360 (2005).
The towns that are part of the municipality of Villaviciosa are located in different valleys that meet towards the coast. These valleys are surrounded by green mountains that acquire their unique color due to the type of vegetation that covers them. The Villaviciosa ria formed by the conjunction of the small rivers that come from the mountains was declared Nature Reserve by the Principality of Asturias.
The municipality of Villaviciosa has 23km of coast divided in 7 beaches: Misiegu, Rodiles, El Puntal, Tazones, Meron, España y La Ñora located in between cliffs. As an interesting fact, on some of the cliffs you can find dinosaurs footprints of more than 65millions years old. Asturias has a lot of importance in the pre-Romanesque art, with numerous exponents of religious architecture, one of the most prominent buildings is found in the proximity of Villaviciosa, San Salvador de Valdediós, "El Conventon", declared world heritage. In the city center of Villaviciosa you can find the Romanesque church of Santa María de Villaviciosa "La Oliva", dedicated to the Annunciation of Our Lady In Villaviciosa is also prominent the civil and military architecture. Towers, palaces and large nobel houses can be found in the center of La Villa. To those monuments you can add numerous Mansiones de Indiano: la Casa del Arcediano o de la Fábrica, restored to become Hotel Casa España a dignified example of the way people lived back then.
The growth of the population in the first decades of the 20th century reflects itself in its Graduate Schools, the Theater Riera as well as in the new consistory. We cannot forget to mention the popular architecture, the houses mariñanas, the horreos, the paneras, the flour mills and the llagares, that are a truly reflection of the traditional life. We should emphasize as well the artistic value of some of the works of carving like the Virgen del Portal of Antonio de Borgia. Among the not religious sculptures we can mention The Villager of Mariano Benlliure and The Park of Ballina of Eduardo Úrculo.
The location of The Village and the configuration of the environment allows the creation of multiple tours either cultural or to enjoy the landscapes. Also it allows the practice of numerous sports, paragliding, canoeing, surfing, sailing, swimming, fishing, hunting and hiking or you can simply enjoy the beach. Other activities include the innumerable festivals and pilgrimages that happen along the year. Each village has numerous traditions that very often call the attention of neighbors and tourism as well as gastronomic events throughout the year.
The basic ingredients of the gastronomic cuisine in the region are fish and shellfish from the Cantabria Sea. You can also enjoy delicious meat dishes. For desserts among others we must emphasize the cake of Villaviciosa, the jam apple and the rice pudding. All these dishes acquire their splendor accompanied by the traditional beverage of these lands: the cider. Villaviciosa, together with other 5twon councils is member of the Cider Association. Since 1960 it has become a tradition to celebrate the Festival of the Apple, the best table apples and ciderreceive prizes.
