Viva Asturias

inspired the Christian reconquest of Moorish Spain

More than 5000 Asturians celebrated their most important day of the year in Benidorm last week. It may sound like they come from a planet in a distant galaxy, but Asturias is actually a province in the green north of Spain which every year honours the Virgin of Covadonga, whose appearance inspired the Christian reconquest of Moorish Spain.

The Julio Iglesias amphitheatre in the Parque de L’Aigüera played host to a day full of traditional folk dancing and bagpipe music from Spain's Celtic fringe, plus tons of traditional food from the area - fabada Asturiana (beans, sausage and black pudding), rice pudding, and gallons and gallons of cider. Everybody was reported to have had a good time.

12 September 2004 Stephen White.