Avilés

Toponymy

The existence of the town proper is documented only in the latter Early Middle Ages, although the etymology of the name "Avilés" is likely ancient. It is thought to come from a local Roman landowner – or likely a Romanized Germanic warrior who settled there from/to the Kingdom of the Suebi or Visigothic Kingdom, as much toponymy in northern Spain shares a Germanic origin – named Abilius.

Chronology

Archaeological excavations have shown that the area was already settled in the upper palaeolithic era.

The first well known document is an endowment of two churches by Asturias King Alfonso III, in 905. During the Middle Ages, it was one of the most important ports of the Biscay Bay, trading mainly with French ports, the main trade was salt. At this time, it had two nuclei: a fishermen's district, Sabugo, and the aristocratic centre, La Villa, standing each other across a small water inlet at the site of present-day Avilés' main Park. La Villa was surrounded by strong walls, which demonstrated its strategic and commercial importance. On 15 January 1479 the Catholic Monarchs granted a free market on each Monday of the year, which still takes place. The importance of the town as a naval centre is supported by the building of ships with wood harvested from nearby forests, and with the participation of local sailors in the conquest of Seville by the Castilian army, which is reflected in Avilés's coat of arms.

It is the birthplace of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, a soldier in the army of Felipe II, who explored Florida in the 16th century and founded in 1565 the first successful (continuously populated) European town in what is now the United States, San Agustín (now St. Augustine, Florida). St. Augustine and Avilés are now sister cities. Avilés is also the birthplace of Juan Carreño de Miranda, court painter to the king Charles II.

The estuary, which had been closed to navigation since the early modern era, was partially drained and cleared in the 19th century. The water inlet dividing the place was covered, so that the two nuclei, Sabugo and La Villa, could be joined together. Then the city began to grow outside the medieval wall, which had been demolished in 1818. In the 20th century, there was an enormous growth in population due to the arrival of several large factories to the town. In 1953 were started the first earthworks for the construction of the factory of ENSIDESA, a large steel mill, currently Aceralia (part of ArcelorMittal); other companies in the area are Cristalería Española, which together with ENDASA, currently Alcoa, transformed Avilés into one of Spain's industrial centres. Nowadays, the city is trying to focus on new industries, particularly cultural tourism, and recover its antique flavour.

Architecture

Sights include:

• St. Thomas of Canterbury church (dating from the 13th century)
• Church of Saint Nicholas of Bari (12th-13th century), in Romanesque style
• Palacio de Valdecarzana, the sole example of civil medieval architecture in the town
• Palacio de Llano Ponte (1700–1706)
• Baroque Palacio de Camposagrado, fortified in its north façade against the English pirates
• Capilla de los Alas, a 14th-century funerary monument in Romanesque-Gothic transition style
• Old church of Sabugo (13th century)
• Palacio de Balsera, in Modernist style
• Palacio Valdés Theatre, in Neobaroque style

Museums and arts centres

• Museum of Avilés Urban History
• Black Pottery Museum
• Alfercam Museum, where visitors can find a combination of world musical instruments and vintage cars.
• Casa de Cultura, including the Bances Candamo public library, art gallery, reading and study areas.
• CMAE - Centro municipal de arte y exposiciones - arts and exhibicion centre in El Arbolón area, not far from the town centre.
• Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre, designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. It is a magnet for different personalities, including winners of the Prince of Asturias Awards, the Nobel Prize, musicians, actors, the United Nations, etc.

Sculptures

Throughout the town there are sculptures in various styles: the set of sculptures in El Muelle park,^[2] specially the Pedro Menendez sculpture and La foca (the seal); the Ruta del acero set of sculptures along the Avilés estuary; Avilés sculpture, and others such as Marta y María, El hombre que escucha la piedra (The Man who Listens to the Stone), El eslabón, Entre bambalines,^[3] etc.

Feasts and traditions

Some of the most famous are:

In autumn:

• Feast of the Amagüestu (Autumn).

In winter:

• The Antroxu (Carnival in Asturian) which includes the Galiana Street International and Fluvial Descent [es].

In spring:

• The Feast of the Bollo [es]; the bollo is a traditional cake—Easter bun from Avilés [es].^[4]
• Lunch in the street (Comida en la Calle).
• The LGBTIQ+ Asturian Cinema Festival [es].^[5]

In summer:

• The Celsius 232, a terror, fantasy and science fiction literature festival.^[6]
• The Interceltic Festival of Avilés, which takes place in summer, with people coming from all Celtic nations (Brittany, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Galicia, Asturias).
• Feast of Saint Augustine (Avilés' patron saint).
• La Mar de Ruido rock festival.

Festivals

• Interceltic Festival of Avilés, which takes place in summer, with people coming from all Celtic nations (Brittany, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Galicia, Asturias).
• Avilés International Cinema and Architecture Festival^[7]
• Beer Festival
• Avilés Acción Film Festival, an international short film festival.^[8]
• Sol Celta ^[9] organized from Sol Street.
• IndieGo Alley Festival,^[10] International Creative Commons film and music festival (live music, videoclips, experimental cinema and short films) organized in Palacio Valdés street. It takes place for one evening.

Bibliography

• Paseo ilustrado por el casco histórico de Avilés, Concejalía de Turismo, Ayuntamiento de Avilés, del Río, Alberto
• Avilés, Ediciones: Mases, Ovies Ruiz, José Ramón
• Asturias a través de sus concejos, Ediciones: Prensa Asturiana S.A.
• Heráldica Institucional y Vexilología del Principado de Asturias, Ediciones: Principado de Asturias, Panizo Gómez, Eduardo
• Avilés, una historia de mil años, Ediciones Azuzel, Juan Carlos de la Madrid
• Avilés, su fe y sus obras, author's edition, Ángel Garralda García
• Gran Enciclopedia Asturiana, Silverio Cañada, Several authors