Iglesia de Santa María del Naranco

Astonishing place to visit while in Oviedo. The preromanic buildings are an amazing piece of Asturias history. In Mount Naranco you will find two buildings, Santa María and San Lillo, both amazing for their structure and stones. A bit more higher, you can reach the Christ Monument of Naranco. A sort of Corcovedo Jesus Christ of Rio de Janeiro. Around there are a lot of paths for practicing senderism. The sights of Oviedo city are unique. There are also several restaurants with amazing traditional dishes.

Construction on Iglesia de Santa Maria del Naranco began in the 9th century. This unesco world heritage site was originally a palace used for recreational purposes and transitioned to a church three centuries later. It is extremely emblematic of Pre-Romanesque architecture, which the region in Asturias around Oviedo is known for. Pay attention to the details inside the church /palace where the carvings reveal animals, people and other symbols. The balconies on either side of the church / palace are also excellent for observing details of the columns. Guided tours of Santa Maria del Naranco cost €5, last from 30-45 minutes and are in Spanish. The entrance fee includes entry to the neighboring church. Highly recommend visiting, especially going on the guided tour. The walk up to Santa Maria del Naranco is rewarding though it is possible to drive up too.

The site in itself is stunning! Nevertheless, it is awfully managed for a UNESCO site. You can visit it only with a guided tour, which is in Spanish only, and whose schedule is not listed anywhere. As the site is very small, there is no real need for a guide, in my opinion, but for pamphlets and brochures in Spanish and other languages. Apart from this, the guide does not offer any real information, but reminds you all the time not to touch anything inside (it's one small hall with bare walls and columns) and literally locks the visiting group in so that the tourists wanting to get in cannot do it 🫣 Totally recommend visiting the site, it's an extraordinaty piece of architecture and a great view, but skip the guided tour.

It is a representative example of the unique Asturian Pre-Romanesque style. Built around 848 AD under the orders of King Ramiro I, the structure was originally a Royal Palace but was later converted into a church. Some scholars even consider this building to be one of the origins of medieval European palace architecture. While the exterior lacks elaborate sculptural decoration, the interior is distinguished by intricate column decorations and semicircular arches. From the loggia at either end of the building, visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the city of Oviedo and Mount Naranco. Since access to the interior is only possible through a guided tour, it is recommended to arrive early and queue accordingly. Please note that the guide speaks only Spanish.

Beautiful place, biked up. Stunning views, lots of walk's

If you are in Oviedo this small church is a must see piece of history up close.

Beautiful, so peaceful. They do tours at certain times. We went at 13.30, the tour includes both Santa Maria del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo. The guide was very knowledgeable. It's definitely worth a visit.

It's a hike up of the guts on an hour to see this exquisitely situated pre romanic church, but on a beautiful day it's well worth the effort. I didn't get to see inside, as you have to be there in the morning, but a did get to see it, in all its glory basking in the afternoon sun.