Santa Cueva de Covadonga

Santa Cueva de Nuestra Señora de Covadonga - Holy Cave of Covadonga

Useful Information

Location:	Road AS-262, south of Soto de Cangas, Covadonga ()
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Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
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As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

722	Battle of Covadonga was the first Christian victory in the Iberian Peninsula over the Arabs and is the begin of the Reconquista.
14+15-JUN-1857	visited by the Dukes of Montpensier, Don Antonio de Orleans and Donna María Luisa Fernanda de Borbón.
1858	visited by Queen Isabel II, her chaplain San Antonio Maria Claret and infants Alfonso XII, Prince of Asturias and the Infanta María Isabel, to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Sanctuary.
02-JUL-1877	construction of the Basilica started with visit by King Alfonso XII.
1902	visit by King Alfonso XIII.
1918	Coronación de la Santina with King Alfonso XIII, King Alfonso XII and Queen Victoria Eugenia.
1976	vist by Kings D. Juan Carlos I and Sofia.
1977	Don Felipe de Borbón declared Principe de Asturias at the sanctuary.

Description

F090-137 — Santa Cueva de Covadonga. Public Domain.

The catholic sanctuary Santa Cueva de Covadonga (Holy Cave of Covadonga) has an impressive cave related specialty: a chapel inside a cave, above a resurgence, waterfall and lake. Located in the Picos de Europa mountains, which are probably the most famous karst area of Spain, it is almost inevitable that this church was built inside a cave. Probably following the appearance of Mary in the cave. The names Covadonga or Cuevadonga originate from cova domnica which translates cave of Our Lady. The cave church is quite important, as it contains the graves of two kings, Pelagius and Alfonso I. The village is a station on the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), the northern branch which is called Camino de la Costa (Coastal Way).