Covadonga

La Santa Cueva.

Covadonga (Asturian: Cuadonga, from Latin: Cova Dominica, "Cavern of the Lady", Arabic: صخرة بلاي‎ Ṣakhraḧ Bilāy) is a village and one of eleven parishes in Cangas de Onís, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northwestern Spain. It is situated in the Picos de Europa mountains.

History

In 722 AD, Iberian Christians won the battle over the Moors in Covadonga. This was the first significant Christian victory over the occupying Moors; as such, it is often considered to be the start of the Reconquista, the 770-year effort to expel the Moors from Iberia. Covadonga is currently a Marian shrine. The Spanish Army has, over the years, named several of its units "Covadonga".

In the mountains above the town there are lakes known as Lagos de Covadonga, and the road leading to the lakes is often featured in the Vuelta a España bicycle race.

See also

• Battle of Covadonga
• Count of Covadonga
• Countess of Covadonga
• Schooner Virjen de Covadonga

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Covadonga

External links

• Covadonga
• Real sitio de Covadonga

Coordinates: 43°19′00″N 5°03′00″W / 43.316667°N 5.05°W / 43.316667; -5.05

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