Parque de San Francisco

Parque de San Francisco is the central park of Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, and it is the place where the city comes to walk, sit and meet. It lies on the edge of the old town, a short distance from the Oviedo Cathedral, and in the nineteenth century it was laid out on land that had belonged to a Franciscan convent, which explains the name. The park was designed as a public promenade, one of Oviedo’s first, at a time when many Spanish cities created green spaces for their growing middle class, and it has kept the shape of a formal city park: wide paths, flower beds, fountains, shady corners and open lawns.

The first thing most visitors notice is the trees. Mature specimens, including some of considerable age, give shade over the paths, and in autumn the colours are rich, since Asturias has a cool and damp climate that keeps everything green for much of the year. Rain is frequent, and the park is lush as a result. The planting, the benches and the bandstand give the park a gentle, old-fashioned feel, and the sound of children playing, as well as the ducks and other birds in the ponds, adds to the atmosphere.

A local description sums up its role neatly: it is a playground for children, a meeting place for couples and a place for older residents to take a calm walk. At weekends, families fill the paths, and on summer evenings people gather on benches. The park also hosts occasional events, markets and open-air performances, although the schedule changes from year to year.

The park is located in the El Palomar area on the edge of the centre, and it is within walking distance of the main sights. The Catedral de San Salvador, with its tall single tower and its Holy Chamber, is a few minutes away, and the Torre del Reloj and the Museo de Bellas Artes de Asturias are in the surrounding streets. The Jardín de Pelayo and the Museo de la Industria de Asturias are also nearby. Further out, the pre-Romanesque church of San Julián de los Prados, part of the UNESCO listing for the Asturian monuments, can be reached on foot or by a short bus ride. Oviedo is known for its many statues in the streets, and a walk through the centre often turns up several.

Entry is free, and the park is open throughout the day. It is a calm place to rest between visits to the cathedral and museums, and it suits a half-hour pause or a longer stroll. Because of the rain, it helps to carry a light waterproof.