Oviedo

Oviedo is the capital of Asturias and the starting point of the Camino Primitivo, considered the oldest of all Camino de Santiago routes. King Alfonso II walked from here to Santiago in the 9th century after the discovery of the apostle's tomb, making this the 'Original Way'.

The city has a wealth of UNESCO-listed pre-Romanesque monuments, including Santa Maria del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo on the hillside above the city. The Gothic Cathedral of San Salvador houses the Camara Santa, a pre-Romanesque chapel containing important medieval relics.

Pilgrims will find every service, from albergues and hotels to supermarkets, pharmacies, and hospitals. The old town is lively, with excellent cider houses (sidrerias) and Asturian cuisine. Oviedo also serves as the start of the Camino de San Salvador connecting to Leon.