Oviedo, Spain is an IUHPFL site for its unique geography and climate. Participants in 2024 were surprised by the coolness of the weather, given that it was summer when they arrived. They mentioned needing to buy additional warmer clothing as they weren’t quite prepared for the cooler conditions.
Additionally, rain is relatively frequent in Oviedo and its surrounding areas, even in the summer months. Excursions were often interrupted by rainy mornings or afternoons.
While Oviedo itself has an altitude of 232 m above sea level, Asturias, the principality in which it is situated, is marked by a mountainous terrain. When the students travelled to Covadonga, a nearby parish to the east of Oviedo, they were able to experience the beauty of the Cantabrian Mountains. The result of these various environmental and geographical features is that the IUHPFL Oviedo students experienced beautiful and mystical landscapes very different from some of the other sites. In photos from the Covadonga excursion, fog creeps through the background, and mountains often loom behind. These scenes combine with the beautiful architecture—such as the Basílica de Santa María la Real in Covadonga—for truly stunning images.
