Best classic places spots hotspots sites sights views photo locations to photograph for photography with maps tips ideas composition postcard photos cool beautiful pictures
Grand Prize in the National Self-Published Book Awards
Benjamin Franklin Award for Best First Book
Best Travel Guide, Benjamin Franklin Awards finalist
“Impressive in its presentation and abundance of material.”
— National Geographic Traveler
“PhotoSecrets books are an invaluable resource for photographers.”
— Nikon School of Photography
“One of the best travel photography books we’ve ever seen.”
— Minolta
“Guides you to the most visually distinctive places to explore with your camera.”
— Outdoor Photographer
“This could be one of the most needed travel books ever published!”
— San Francisco Bay Guardian
“The most useful travel guides for anyone with a camera.”
— Shutterbug’s Outdoor and Nature Photography
“Takes the guesswork out of shooting.”
— American Way (American Airlines magazine)
PhotoSecrets Asturias, first published May 3, 2016. This version output April 21, 2018.
Curated, coded and designed by Andrew Hudson. Copyright © Andrew Hudson for PhotoSecrets (Photo Tour Books, Inc.). Photos, text and maps copyrights are listed in the credits section.
“‘And what is the use of a book,’ thought Alice ‘without pictures or conversations?’”
— Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
Thank you to the many talented photographers that generously made their photos available. Photos distributed by the following:
Text copyright of Wikipedia editors and contributors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA).
Map data from OpenStreetMap and its contributors. Open data licensed under the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL).
Cover image by Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias/Flickr.
Back cover image by .
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any way without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner(s) and the publisher of this book.
The information provided within this book is for general informational purposes only. Some information may be inadvertently incorrect, or may be incorrect in the source material, or may have changed since publication, this includes GPS coordinates, addresses, location titles, descriptions, Web links, and photo credits. Use with caution; do not photograph from roads or other dangerous places or when trespassing, even if GPS coordinates and/or maps indicate so; beware of moving vehicles; obey laws. The publisher and author cannot accept responsibility for any consequences arising from the use of this book. There are no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, images, or graphics contained in this book for any purpose. Any use of this information is at your own risk.
For corrections, please send an email.
A great travel photograph, like a great news photograph, requires you to be in the right place at the right time to capture that special moment. Professional photographers have a short-hand phrase for this: “F8 and be there.”
There are countless books that can help you with photographic technique, the “F8” portion of that equation. But until now, there’s been little help for the other, more critical portion of that equation, the “be there” part. To find the right spot, you had to expend lots of time and shoe leather to wander around, track down every potential viewpoint, and essentially re-invent the wheel.
In my career as a professional travel photographer, well over half my time on location is spent seeking out the good angles. Andrew Hudson’s PhotoSecrets does all that legwork for you, so you can spend your time photographing instead of wandering about. It’s like having a professional location scout in your camera bag. I wish I had one of these books for every city I photograph on assignment.
PhotoSecrets can help you capture the most beautiful sights with a minimum of hassle and a maximum of enjoyment. So grab your camera, find your favorite PhotoSecrets spots, and “be there!”
Bob Krist has photographed assignments for National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, Travel/Holiday, Smithsonian, and Islands. He won “Travel photographer of the Year” from the Society of American Travel Writers in 1994, 2007, and 2008.
For National Geographic, Bob has led round-the-world tours and a traveling lecture series. His book In Tuscany with Frances Mayes spent a month on The New York Times’ bestseller list and his how-to book Spirit of Place was hailed by American Photographer magazine as “the best book about travel photography we’ve ever read.”
The parents of three sons, Bob and his wife live in New Hope, Pennsylvania.
Thank you for reading PhotoSecrets. As a fellow fan of travel and photography, I hope this guide will help you quickly find the most visually stunning places, and come home with equally stunning photographs.
PhotoSecrets is designed to show you all the best sights. Flick through, see the classic shots, and use them as a departure point for your own creations. Get ideas for composition and interesting viewpoints. See what piques your interest. Know what to shoot, where to stand, when to go, and why it’s interesting. Now you can spend less time researching and more time photographing.
The idea for PhotoSecrets came during a trip to Thailand, when I tried to find the exotic beach used in the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun. None of the guidebooks I had showed a picture, so I thought a guidebook of postcard photos would be useful for us photographers. Twenty-plus years later, you have this guide. Thanks!
Now, start exploring — and take lots of photos!
Originally an engineer, Andrew Hudson started PhotoSecrets in 1995. His first book won the Benjamin Franklin Award for Best First Book and his second won the Grand Prize in the National Self-Published Book Awards.
Andrew has published 38 nationally-distributed photography books. He has photographed assignments for Macy’s, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Men’s Health and Seventeen, and been a location scout for Nikon. His photos and articles have appeared in Alaska Airlines, National Geographic Traveler, Shutterbug Outdoor and Nature photography, Where, and Woman’s World.
Andrew has a degree in Computer Engineering from Manchester University and a certificate in copyright law from Harvard Law School. Born in Redditch, England, he lives with his wife, two kids, and two chocolate Labs, in San Diego, California.
At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Asturias |
| GPS: | 43.333, -6.000 |
| Address: | Asturias, Spain |
| Country: | Spain |
| Capital: | Oviedo |
| What: | An autonomous community in north-west Spain |
| Historically: | Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages |
| Largest city: | Gijón |
| Population: | 1,061,756 (2014) |
| Website: | asturias.es |
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community in north-west Spain, once the Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages.
Photographer: Herbythyme
Year: 2009.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 4.
| Addr: | Cangas de Onís, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.3502558 -5.1265089 |
| What: | Roman bridge | When: | Anytime |
| AKA: | Roman bridge |
Photographer: Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias
Year: 2009.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY 2.
Photographer: Atorpey
Year: 2015.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 4.
Photographer: Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
a statue by Don Pelayo, 1919.
| Addr: | Where: | 43.30898 -5.053453 | |
| What: | Statue | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Arturo Nikolai
Year: 2007.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
The Santa Cueva de Covadonga is a Catholic sanctuary located in Asturias, northern Spain.
| Addr: | Covadonga, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.3106154 -5.0576661 |
| What: | Catholic sanctuary | When: | Anytime |
| AKA: | Holy Cave of Covadonga | Wik: |
Photographer: Ecelan
Year: 2008.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 4.
Photographer: Arturo Nikolai
Year: 2007.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
| Addr: | Santa Cueva de Covadonga, Covadonga, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.3106154 -5.0576661 |
| What: | Basilica | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: E Corvilla
Year: 2010.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 3.
| Addr: | Santa Cueva de Covadonga, Covadonga, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.3106154 -5.0576661 |
| What: | Hermitage | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Adelosrm
Year: 2004.
Source: Wikipedia
License: Released by author into the public domain.
| Addr: | Santa Cueva de Covadonga, Covadonga, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.3106154 -5.0576661 |
| What: | Tomb | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Francisco M Marzoa Alonso
Year: 2005.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
The Collegiate church of Nuestra Señora de Covadonga is a collegiate church located in the parish of Covadonga, Cangas de Onís, Spain.
| Addr: | Covadonga, Cangas De Onís, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.307481 -5.054097 |
| What: | Church | When: | Anytime |
| AKA: | Covadonga Cathedral | Wik: |
Photographer: Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
a statue by Don Pelayo, 1918.
| Addr: | Where: | 43.350912 -5.126495 | |
| What: | Statue | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Iel Abrilcommonswiki
Year: 2006.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
Lake Enol (Lago de Enol) is a small highland lake.
| Addr: | Cangas de Onís, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.272238 -4.991096 |
| What: | Lake | When: | Anytime |
| AKA: | Lago de Enol | Wik: |
Photographer: Ecelan
Year: 2008.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 4.
| Addr: | Cangas de Onis, Asturias | Where: | 43.346654 -5.086087 |
| What: | Palace | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Ecelan
Year: 2008.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 4.
12th century Romanesque monastery.
| Addr: | Villanueva, Cangas De Onís, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.36639 -5.15139 |
| What: | Monastery | When: | Anytime |
| Wik: |
Photographer: Maragm
Year: 2006.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 3.
Photographer: Ecelan
Year: 2008.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 4.
Photographer: Ramón
Year: 2008.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
Colunga is a municipality in the Autonomous community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain.
| Addr: | Where: | 43.48611 -5.27028 | |
| What: | Municipality | When: | Anytime |
| Wik: |
Photographer: Ramón
Year: 2008.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
Photographer: Mario Modesto
Year: 2008.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 3.
Photographer: Manuel
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
| Addr: | Lastres, Colunga, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.513919 -5.27055 |
| What: | Lighthouse | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Noemy García García
Year: 2006.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
Jurassic Museum of Asturias (Museo del Jurásico de Asturias, MUJA) has over 20 dinosaur replicas.
| Addr: | Rasa de San Telmo, Llastres, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.501897 -5.274769 |
| What: | Museum | When: | Anytime |
| AKA: | Museo del Jurásico de Asturias, MUJA | Wik: |
Photographer: Mario Modesto
Year: 2008.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 3.
Photographer: Ramón
Year: 2008.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
Photographer: Jaume Meneses
Year: 2007.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
The Tower of Llanes is a tower located in Llanes, Spain.
| Addr: | Llanes, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.42127 -4.754983 |
| What: | Tower | When: | Anytime |
| Wik: |
Photographer: Michel Curi
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
| Addr: | Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre, Avilés, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.556884 -5.916288 |
| What: | Tower | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Surfast
Year: 2011.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY 3.
Photographer: Zarateman
Year: 2011.
Source: Wikipedia
License: Released by author into the public domain.
Multipurpose Building.
| Addr: | Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre, Avilés, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.556884 -5.916288 |
| What: | Building | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Michel Curi
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
Fuente de los Cuatro Leones.
| Addr: | Where: | 43.557238 -5.922114 | |
| What: | Fountain | When: | Anytime |
| AKA: | Fuente de los Cuatro Leones |
Photographer: Markus Bernet
Year: 2010.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 3.
Cudillero is a small village and municipality in the Principality of Asturias, Spain.
| Addr: | Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.5600 -6.150 |
| What: | Village | When: | Anytime |
| Wik: |
Photographer: Jose Luis Martinez Alvarez
Year: 2005.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
Photographer: Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
| Addr: | Cudillero, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.563471 -6.144181 |
| What: | Harbor | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias
Year: 2007.
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
| Addr: | Cudillero, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.563471 -6.144181 |
| What: | Street thing | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Miguel Raul Granda Barbon
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
| Addr: | Where: | 43.516618 -5.913047 | |
| What: | Waterfall | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Magnus Manske Aherrero Ecemami
Year: 2009.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY 2.
| Addr: | Luanco, Gozón, Avilés, Asturias | Where: | 43.61000 -5.79000 |
| What: | Church | When: | Anytime |
| AKA: | Iglesia de Santa María |
Photographer: Michel Curi
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
Eulogy to the Horizon (Elogio del Horizonte) is a sculpture by Chillida, 1989.
| Addr: | Cimavilla, Gijón, Asturias | Where: | 43.548972 -5.663031 |
| What: | Sculpture | When: | Anytime |
| AKA: | Elogio del Horizonte |
Photographer: Roberto Sueiras Revuelta
Year: 2005.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 3.
Photographer: B25es
Year: 2013.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 3.
| Addr: | Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.333 -6.000 |
| What: | Roman baths | When: | Anytime |
| AKA: | Roman baths |
Photographer: Alberto García Fernández
Year: 2011.
Source: Wikipedia
License: Released by author into the public domain.
| Addr: | Gijón, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.533 -5.700 |
| What: | Sculpture | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Asturkian
Year: 2010.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 3.
The Plaza de Toros de El Bibio is a bullring inaugurated in 1888 and renovated in 1997.
| Addr: | Gijón, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.03528 -5.64528 |
| What: | Bullring | When: | Anytime |
| Wik: |
Photographer: Jacinta Lluch Valero
Year: 2007.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
Photographer: Atilim Gunes Baydin
Year: 2003.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 3.
| Addr: | San Lorenzo beach, Gijón, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.533 -5.700 |
| What: | Statue | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Jose L Marin
Year: 2007.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 3.
| Addr: | Gijón, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.533 -5.700 |
| What: | Church | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Manuel
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
| Addr: | Villaviciosa, Asturias | Where: | 43.481719 -5.435575 |
| What: | Building | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Richfife
Year: 2009.
Source: Wikipedia
License: Released by author into the public domain.
| Addr: | Candás, Carreño, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.590833 -5.767222 |
| What: | Statue | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Sitomon
Year: 2006.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
looks like a large hole in the rock.
| Addr: | Peña Mea, Laviana, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.2357611 -5.556250 |
| What: | Hole in rock | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Nacho
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
Conde de Campomanes, by Favila.
| Addr: | Where: | 43.356908 -5.853653 | |
| What: | Statue | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Michel Curi
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
Ayuntamiento de Ovideo.
| Addr: | Where: | 43.36 -5.845 | |
| What: | Building | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Michel Curi
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
By Santiago de Santiago.
| Addr: | Plaza Longoria Carbajal, Asturias | Where: | 43.364547 -5.848253 |
| What: | Statue | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Aureliano
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
Maternity (La Maternidad) is a sculpture by Fernando Botero.
| Addr: | Plaza de la Escandalera, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.362022 -5.84853 |
| What: | Sculpture | When: | Anytime |
| AKA: | La Maternidad | Wik: |
Photographer: Silvia Alba
Year: 2010.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY 2.
| Addr: | Plaza de la Escandalera, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.362022 -5.84853 |
| What: | Building | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Dantadd
Year: 2006.
Source: Wikipedia
License: Released by author into the public domain.
Photographer: Nacho
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
| Addr: | Where: | 43.36174 -5.853438 | |
| What: | Statue | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Nacho
Source: Flickr
License: CC-BY 2.
| Addr: | Oviedo, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.361177 -5.849384 |
| What: | Street thing | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Urko
Year: 2006.
Source: Wikipedia
License: Released by author into the public domain.
| Addr: | Oviedo, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.36000 -5.84500 |
| What: | Castle | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Balasturias
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 3.
| Addr: | Parque Natural Somiedo, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.118729 -6.280086 |
| What: | Lake | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Flickrcompeoplefreecat
Year: 2010.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY 2.
Monasterio de San Salvador in Cornellana is a monastery located in Cornellana, municipality of Salas in Asturias, Spain.
| Addr: | Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.4091 -6.1568 |
| What: | Monastery | When: | Anytime |
| Wik: |
Photographer: Maragm
Year: 2006.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 3.
Photographer: Juan José Hernández Rodríguez
Year: 2005.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY 2.
The Castillo de Salas is a castle in the town of Salas in the region of Asturias, northern Spain.
| Addr: | Where: | 43.40944 -6.25944 | |
| What: | Castle | When: | Anytime |
| Wik: |
Photographer: José Antonio Sierra
Year: 2007.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
| Addr: | Oneta, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.46455 -6.66855 |
| What: | Waterfall | When: | Anytime |
Photographer: Jose Luis Martinez Alvarez
Year: 2005.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 2.
The Hermitage of Santa Cristina is a hermitage located in Lena, Spain.
| Addr: | Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.127222 -5.814167 |
| What: | Church | When: | Anytime |
| Wik: |
Photographer: Amebaensalsa
Year: 2011.
Source: Wikipedia
License: CC-BY-SA 3.
Castle of Soto is a castle situated in Aller, Asturias, Spain.
| Addr: | Aller, Asturias, Spain | Where: | 43.1632 -5.6444 |
| What: | Castle | When: | Anytime |
| Wik: |
Thank you to the many wonderful people and companies that made their work available to use in this guide.
Photo key: Tap the camera icon to see the photo. The two letters reference the distributor and license. Key for distributors: f:Flickr; w:Wikipedia. Key for license: a:CC-BY-SA; b:CC-BY; m:public domain.
Cover image by .Iel Abrilcommonswiki ( wm); Adelosrm ( wb); Silvia Alba ( wa); Francisco M Marzoa Alonso ( wa); Jose Luis Martinez Alvarez ( wa); Amebaensalsa ( wa); Asturkian ( wa); Atorpey ( wa); Aureliano ( wa); B25es ( wa); Balasturias ( fa); Miguel Raul Granda Barbon ( wa); Atilim Gunes Baydin ( wa); Markus Bernet ( wa); E Corvilla ( fb); Michel Curi ( wm); Dantadd ( wa); Ecelan ( wb); Magnus Manske Aherrero Ecemami ( wm); Alberto García Fernández ( wb); Flickrcompeoplefreecat ( wa); Noemy García García ( wa); Herbythyme ( wb); Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias ( fb); Manuel ( wa); Maragm ( wa); Jose L Marin ( wa); Jaume Meneses ( wa); Mario Modesto ( fb); Nacho ( wa); Arturo Nikolai ( wa); Ramón ( wa); Roberto Sueiras Revuelta ( wm); Richfife ( wb); Juan José Hernández Rodríguez ( wa); José Antonio Sierra ( wa); Sitomon ( wb); Surfast ( wm); Urko ( wa); Jacinta Lluch Valero ( wm); Zarateman ( wm). Some text adapted from Wikipedia and its contributors where noted by the URL path in the “Wik” table field, used and modified under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC-BY-SA) license. Map data from OpenStreetMap and its contributors, used under the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL).