The route begins in Gijón, a versatile city that can furnish all the facilities of a modern city and still offer an interesting old part to explore. The latter shows us the traces of a past that dates back to before the times of Christianity. Roman ruins can be visited in the Cerro de Santa Catalina, while the figure of Pelayo, whose statue presides over the Plaza del Marqués de San Esteban, is its main historical claim to fame. A visit to the Cimadevilla district is a must; this is believed to be city’s original site and today it shows the typical Asturian character, built up from the bustling port and the beaches. The beaches are the district’s great attraction and charm, with all the attributes of the perfect seaside resort. One of the many pleasures we can try here is the exquisite cider, the product par excellence of Asturia’s green and pleasant land. In Gijón there are sidrerías (cider bars) on all sides; some of the most notable examples are La Casona de Jovellanos and La Galana. A visit should also be made to the Calle Pablo Iglesias, where there is a whole cluster of bars. But the truth is that throughout the whole city there are many homes of the fire art of escanciado or cider pouring.

We head next for Villaviciosa, skirting the lovely beaches of the Costa Verde. This town has a Romanesque air and it is well worthwhile making a tour of its churches. The town is often dubbed the “la patria de la sidra”, the fatherland of cider; like Gijón itself it has many renowned and prestigious sidrerías, such as the Casa Marcelo, the Bedriñana or El Galeón, among others. We can also drop into the old and nearby factory of El Gaitero, a legendary brand of cider that has its origins here.

The third apple-growing destination is the cider capital, Nava, 30 kilometres from Oviedo. Here we will find the Hogar Museo de la Sidra, a cider museum that uses an enveloping virtual exhibition system to exhibit the whole cider-production process, from pollination of the apple tree to the foaming tankardful in the cider tavern.

Time permitting it is worth deviating a few kilometres southwards to visit the Llagar Trabanco in Lavandera, Gijón’s biggest producer of natural cider. Here is where we gain the best insights into the traditional manufacturing process.

Finally, we should visit the Sariego district to see the biggest orchards of the area, with a huge range of apple varieties.

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