{"id":741,"date":"2023-10-20T07:56:15","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T05:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/natura-tours.com\/?p=741"},"modified":"2024-09-15T02:58:52","modified_gmt":"2024-09-15T00:58:52","slug":"https-natura-tours-com-covadonga-basilica-and-sanctuary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/natura-tours.com\/pt\/https-natura-tours-com-covadonga-basilica-and-sanctuary\/","title":{"rendered":"Santu\u00e1rio de Covadonga"},"content":{"rendered":"

The spiritual heart of Asturias<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art, heritage, landscape, history, worship\u2026 Covadonga has it all. The cave of La Santina, the neo-Romanesque basilica and the magnificent glacial lakes make this area an unmissable destination on a trip to Asturias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you drive your own car to Covadonga in high season, you must park in the designated parking lots. Shuttle buses will take you the rest of the short distance to the Pr\u00edncipe Gardens, the Covadonga sanctuary and the lakes. The buses stop several times along the route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is there to see in Covadonga?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sanctuary and the Santa Cueva<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Santa Cueva or \u2018Holy Cave\u2019 is located above a waterfall that forms a pool below the sanctuary. Next to it is the Fuente de los Siete Ca\u00f1os (Fountain of the Seven Gargoyles), also known as the \u2018Marriage Fountain\u2019, as popular belief has it that a young girl who drinks the water from the fountain without gasping for air will be married within a year. The verse reads as follows: \u2018The maiden of Covadonga\/ has a well so glassy,\/ that any girl who drinks its water\/ will be married within a year\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two large Carrara marble lions sit on either side of the road, guarding the entrance to the sanctuary. They are exact replicas of the sculptures by Pompeio Marchesi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entering the cave with the Virgin of Covadonga – the most venerated image in Asturias \u2013 is no great challenge. Simply climb the 103 steps of the Staircase of the Promise (some pilgrims do this on their knees). The cave can also be accessed from the esplanade of the basilica. Pilgrims come here to venerate la Santina, which is actually a copy of the original statue that was destroyed in a fire in 1777. The altar is decorated with images alluding to the Battle of Covadonga. Nearby are the tombs of Pelagius of Asturias and his wife Gauiosa, as well as those of his son-in-law Alfonso I and his daughter Hermelinda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next to the Santa Cueva is the monastery of San Pedro. It houses a community of canons and also has a house for spiritual practises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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