Nava, Villaviciosa, Cabranes, Colunga & Bimenes

These are the concejos (or counties) that make up the Comarca de la Sidra or 'Cider Shire.' Located in the geographical heart of Asturias and occupying a pivotal place in the cultural pysche of the province also, this region is the largest cider producing area in the whole of Europe.

Nava

Forming a triangle with its counterparts Infiesto and Villaviciosa, Nava is another market town and county administrative capital. Nava is very well served by infrastructure with good rail and road connections (just 20 minutes to the Asturian capital of Oviedo) and good breadth of ADSL service. This has helped to create a prosperous local community and a buoyant housing market.

In the heart of the cider region (or Comarca de la Sidra), both the ubiquitous sidrerias and the Cider Museum bear testament to the importance of this local brew in both the town’s history and its present. The museum provides an educational and fascinating insight into the wider importance of Sidra in the province as a whole.

The annual Cider Festival in the town is a jolly, family-oriented occasion that further illustrates the point. Click to read our blog about the 2008 Festival, and to view photos from the event.

With a pleasant, pedestrianized central square in front of the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall). Not as pretty as Villa or Infiesto.

The small size of the town, by UK standards, is belied by the profusion of services that are available there. Post Office, Banks, Medical Emergency Centre, Rail, Pharmacies, Vets, Telecentro, Police, Schools.

Infiesto

With an impressively mountainous backdrop and the clear waters of the Sella river flowing through its architecturally traditional heart, the market town of Infiesto is a really picturesque spot as well as an important centre for local services.

A drink or a meal in one of the many waterfront bars and restaurants gives the ideal opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of this earthy, Asturian town.

Monday is market day and if you´re looking to plant a huerta (vegetable plot) then this is the place to stock up on seedlings or if you just want to profit from the gardening efforts of others, a great place to buy locally produced fruit, veg, honey etc.

If fishing is your thing, then many an hour can be whiled away on the leafy banks of the river. (Asturian fishing licence available for around €15)

Despite its small and friendly size, as the capital of the concejo of Piloña Infiesto is an important administrative centre for the area. The Catastro or Land Registry Offices (where all property information and deeds are stored), as is the Office of the Notario (State Solicitor).

The Ayuntamiento or Town Hall occupies impressive buildings in the very centre of the town. There is a medical emergencies centre, as well as various pharmacies and doctors´ surgeries.

The Casa de Cultura houses the Tourist Information centre and a well-equipped library. This building is a wi-fi zone throughout, with free access. The Telecentro is another free wi-fi point and also has 16 desktop computers which members can use.

The major banks have branches here, and in addition to a healthily diverse array of independent shops there are a couple of supermarkets.

A great base for exploring some of the mountain areas of Asturias, Infiesto has a friendly Mountaineering and Climbing Club that organizes trips of this nature, as well as ski trips in the winter and has its own small, dedicated climbing wall in the town.

Autumn sees the emergence in the surrounding fields and hillsides of an abundant array of fungi – including many exotic and sought-after species, as well as many lethally poisonous ones! A great time then to enrol on one of the annual mushroom collecting expeditions that are led by local experts. Or just go along to the subsequent exhibition in the town hall.

Train Station, with service to Oviedo in the West, and coastal route to Santander in the East.

TOP PROPERTY