Five Lookouts to Admire Asturias from Above

Some overlook the coast; others gaze at snow-capped peaks. And throughout, here and there, the evergreen landscape of Asturias prevails. We are talking about the most spectacular viewpoints of Asturias. Elevated points where the landscape unfolds beneath your feet. Not all are included, of course, but certainly some of the most essential:

Halfway between Colunga and Arriondas lies the Alto de la Cruz de Llames, in the heart of the Sierra del Sueve. A place embraced by peaks covered in vegetation that form a wall against the Cantabrian Sea. Here stands the concrete structure known as the Mirador del Fito, from which, on clear days, one can see not only the vastness of the sea but also the grandeur of the Picos de Europa. A panoramic view at 597 meters above sea level that stretches from Gijón to the coastal landscape of Cantabria, leaving visitors breathless. 360 degrees of natural spectacle from this watchtower shaped like a UFO, which locals dubbed

due to its resemblance to a cup.

With a less scenic view, but no less interesting, this popular lookout is located on Monte Naranco and allows you to see all of Oviedo (20 minutes by car from the historic downtown) framed by mountains on the horizon. But besides the views, it also allows for a visit to two of the most important pre-Romanesque jewels of the peninsula: the churches of Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo, built for the enjoyment of King Ramiro I, though their exact purpose remains unclear. Both together form a treasure, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, worth discovering.

Nothing can be more beautiful than wandering through the coastal town of Lastres only to end up high above, contemplating its features from another perspective. At its highest point, next to the chapel of San Roque, is the lookout of the same name, allowing views of the coastline, mountains, beaches, and cliffs that outline the eastern Asturian coast. But above all, it offers a glimpse into the magic of this village sprawling down a hillside toward the Cantabrian Sea, with its charming colorful houses and unmistakably maritime air. A delightful image.

Designed by a lover of this land, architect Julián Delgado Úbeda, and inaugurated in 1933, this may be the best lookout for contemplating the Naranjo de Bulnes or Picu Urriellu, one of the most iconic peaks in Spanish mountaineering and a great gem of the Picos de Europa. It is located in the area of Poo de Cabrales, headed toward Carreña, and is ideal for marveling at the vertical wall of the west face of the peak.

We include in this list these lookouts (which are several) from the council of Boal, overlooking the Penouta mountain range with views (once again) of the coast and the mountains. There is the Penouta Costa lookout, at 900 meters above sea level, from which one can see a constellation of councils: from Tapia, Castropol, El Franco, Coaña, Navia, and Valdés, on the edge of the coastline, to Boal and Villayón, hidden inland. There is also the Penouta Interior lookout at 800 meters above sea level, for observing ridge tops. And the Castro de Pendia lookout, close to a beautiful hillfort. A complete repertoire of panoramas.

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