Oviedo Facts
Key products: textiles, metals pharmaceuticals, chocolate, sugar, designer handbags/shoes.
Accounts for 30.1% of Asturian tourism and 29% of its economic activity.
University of Oviedo: founded in 1608.
Mayor: Gabino DeLorenzo.
Oviedo's history:
757: founded as mountain fort by King Fruela I to guard Puerto de Pajares mountain pass.
808: Alfonso II chose Oviedo as the new capital of the Kingdom of Asturias.
1521: on Christmas Eve a great fire starts in Cimedevilla Street.
Secular sector took power away from clergy (after this fire).
1550: Cathedral finished.
1934: many historic building damaged by fighting.
1992: municipal plan for protection of the heritage was launched. (including auto-free zones).
