Photo Essay by Miguel Neves.

It’s said that the Moors never made it to northern Spain when they invaded the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century. They simply could not cross the span of mountainous terrain that separates today’s Castilla and León province from their northern neighbour. In fact, the reconquering of Spain and Portugal by King Pelagius of Asturias started from this small province that, despite its clustered location in between mountain and ocean, has a strong cultural identity, its own language and an irresistible allure for those who love nature, hiking and mesmerising landscapes.

Asturias’ motto, “Paraíso Natural”, suits the region like a glove, and those who partake in a road trip across its mountains, canyons and lakes, will delight in experiencing this natural paradise firsthand, absorbing a healthy dose of turquoise, greens and grey along the way. 

These contrasting colours and shapes somehow intertwine in a harmonious clash throughout layers of stone, grass, water and snow, the landscape ingeniously sculpted by nature and preserved throughout the centuries.

There are few places in Europe where the ocean is just a 50-minute drive from the mountains, and this might just be Asturias’ main draw. The gift of variety blesses this province in a way that rivals almost every other Spanish region and it is most certainly worth spending time here - the reward for doing so is a host of visual souvenirs, memories of textures and shapes and a yearning for more of this natural paradise.

To see more of Miguel’s work, click here.