✨ Oviedo’s Unique Character: Seven Ways This City Stands Apart ✨

Oviedo’s Unique Character: The Skyline Without Skyscrapers

Oviedo doesn’t need glass towers to impress. Strict urban planning laws keep the skyline low and human-scaled, ensuring uninterrupted views of Mount Naranco. This commitment to balance between architecture and nature is part of what makes Oviedo’s unique character stand out in Spain.

Avenida de Galicia, Oviedo

Oviedo’s Unique Character: A City of Statues

More than one hundred statues grace Oviedo’s streets — from Mafalda perched on a bench, to the Fish Seller, to Woody Allen immortalized in bronze. The statues aren’t just decoration; they’re woven into daily life, making art accessible on every corner. Oviedo’s unique character lies in how it invites you to interact with its history and culture in the open air. Many statues pay homage to the ordinary citizen, but of course, there are celebrities as well (see below).

The Fisherwoman

Standing with “The Milkmaid"

Cider as Performance Art

Asturian sidra, which is alcoholic apple cider, isn’t poured, it’s thrown. Servers lift the bottle high over their heads and catch the stream in a glass held low at the hip. The splash aerates the cider, enhancing flavor. Floors get wet, but no one minds — it’s tradition. Oviedo’s unique character is on full display in this ritual that feels equal parts hospitality and theater. I tried the sidra (of which there are numerous brands, just like beer) and it's not bad at all. Very fruity.

The glass receiving the sidra is behind the green barrier

Spain’s Cleanest Streets

The quip in Oviedo is that if you drop a piece of paper, you might not even have time to pick it up before a cleaning crew sweeps past. The city has a reputation as Spain’s cleanest, and locals are proud of it. Oviedo’s unique character comes through in this attention to detail, where spotless streets reflect a sense of civic pride. There is no trash. None. And the trash cans are never full either.

A sidewalk washer

The Church That Wasn’t Meant To Be

Santa María del Naranco, built in 848 CE, wasn’t originally a church at all — it was a royal palace.

Santa Maria del Naranco (Image:Wikipedia)

Converted centuries later, it is now one of Spain’s most unusual UNESCO sites. Its rectangular shape, hillside perch, and astonishing antiquity set it apart from the soaring cathedrals most visitors expect. Oviedo’s unique character lies in preserving this 9th-century gem that defies convention.

Oviedo’s Unique Character: Hollywood Fell for Oviedo

Woody Allen statue

When Woody Allen filmed Vicky Cristina Barcelona, he chose Oviedo as one of the settings. He later called it a “fairy-tale city,” and the feeling is mutual — the city gave him a statue in return. Oviedo’s unique character, blending old-world charm with modern global recognition, has even made Hollywood pause to take notice. Not everyone agrees with its presence today, given Allen’s controversial reputation, but that contrast itself has become part of Oviedo’s unique character — a city where global fame, local pride, and shifting cultural conversations intersect in bronze.

A Very Special Ceremony

The Princess of Asturias Awards, founded in 1980, are Spain’s answer to the Nobels, honoring achievements in arts, sciences, and beyond.

The Princess of Asturias Awards in the 19th-century opera house, the Teatro Campoamar, one of the city’s most iconic buildings (Image: Wikipedia)

Held in October, this year’s Sports Award goes to the incomparable Serena Williams — no word yet if she’ll attend, but recipients must be present to accept. It would be a shame if she missed the chance to enjoy Oviedo's charm. She would be welcomed with great fanfare, grace, and warmth.

Closing Paragraph

Oviedo’s unique character reveals itself in ways both subtle and spectacular: in the skyline, the statues, the cider ritual, the immaculate streets, the astonishing palace-turned-church, and even a Hollywood cameo. Together, these seven traits tell the story of a city that defies expectations and stays unforgettable.

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*All images mine unless otherwise stated.