Cudillero, Spain: A Perfect Mix Of Authentic Art, Nature And Good Food

A colour palette made by houses

Cudillero is an ancient fishing port but its natural position and its characteristic edifices make the village a real treasure that you can’t miss once you are in Asturias. The houses that dot the hill are painted in many different colours and fan out from the bay in a semi-circle. Walking along the narrow streets, you will run into various architectural sights, from the Gothic churches and chapels to the modern buildings and restaurants. I suggest that you linger at the so-called “Indian houses”, built during the 19th century by the Spanish emigrants who came back to their homeland. “Indian” was the denomination given to Spanish people who had left the country to seek their fortune in Latin America. Very often, once they returned to Spain with their earnings, they built polished houses and palaces, a bit in conflict with the other edifices’ style (but very nice to see for us!).

Explore different art forms

Not only fishermen populate this unique village. You should know that since ancient times, the inhabitants developed different types of art in order to live, also counting on handicraft and its trade. Don’t be afraid to enter the hidden workshops along the streets and try to converse with the artisans: you will learn lots of secrets about the raw materials of the zone. The best handcrafted objects, in fact, are made of shells, of a peculiar black ceramic or a famous “quiastolita”, a particular Asturian stone used by Santiago’s pilgrims because of the cross that appears on its surface naturally.

Reach the city centre in a peculiar way

If you arrive at the newest area of the port, at the bottom of the promenade that runs along the bay, a strange hole hidden by a waterfall will arouse your curiosity. Be brave and pass through it, you will have the possibility to reach the city centre walking in a tunnel that crosses the mountain! In past times this tunnel was very useful to deviate the flow of the Piñera river, so that it didn’t pass through the village. Moreover, it used to be also a perfect channel to carry fish, coal and other elements up and down the town.

Eat in an ancient fish market: la Lonja del Pescado

How can it be a good day off without a great meal served in a typical setting?

The old port is today full of bars and restaurants, but I suggest that you try a special one: la Lonja del Pescado. This used to be the principal fish market of the village, and so one of the most important places of Cudillero. Today it has been transformed into a very cosy restaurant, where the atmosphere and the prime quality food will invite you to return again and again. You’ll be spoiled for choice tasting the typical fish dishes: I recommend you to try the so-called pixín (monkfish), sardines, bonito en rollo, squids and shrimps, but the list of specialities is really much longer than this.

Being in Asturias, a good complement to these fishplates is the natural cider (Sidra), the typical drink of the whole region.

The surroundings: Playas and Cabo Vidio

Once you’ve visited this colourful village, take advantage of your trip to have a look at the incredible panoramas that surround Cudillero. This Asturian green coast holds a great number of beaches and bays, from the most touristic places – like Playa de San Pedro de la Ribera or Playa de Concha de Artedo – to those that guarantee a quiet and direct contact with nature, such as Playa del Silencio or Cabo Vidio. Stop for a while along this headland, breathe deeply and enjoy silently this extraordinary natural sight.