Tapia de Casariego is a lovely fishing village on Asturias' western coast, and where rural tourism is one of the best ways to enjoy a relaxing visit.
Serantes, Campos and Salave, La Roda and Tapia, the council's capital, are the parishes that make up the town.
What natural sites will you have the opportunity to visit? Tapia de Casariego is a municipality situated near the coast, thus you can expect to see wild beauty in every corner. The beaches of La Paloma, Represas, Mexota, Aguileiro, and Serantes provide the best image of this landscape.
It would be unfair to mention that Tapia de Casariego has become one of northern Spain's biggest surfing hotspots. The World Surfing Championships is held here owing to its rich natural landscapes.
Aside from natural sceneries, history has left us with remnants that may still be visited today, indicating the contemporary character of this region's culture.
The Celts left us their forts, such as the forts of Santa Gadea, Esteiro, and Toxal, to name a few.
If we venture into Tapia's town centre, we can enjoy its historical heritage. There are several monumental buildings like the Church of San Esteban, a nineteenth-century structure with traditional architecture style, or the Chapel of San Blas, one of the council's oldest structures, believed to date back to the 15th century.
And speaking of history, the Casa de la Cultura Juan Mairena is the oldest civil building in Tapia, where you can see its coat of arms on the outside, while its interior serves as the venue for the exhibition The Lords of the Palace Houses in which recounts the daily life of prominent people of the area.
As a final stop on our Tapia tour, we may see the Town Hall, dating back to the 19th century and has the distinction of being awarded two medallions for its outstanding architectural value at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1878.
Would you like to know how its residents make a living? We have already learned a little about its streets and history. As it is a seafaring town, its economy is based on fishing and the growth of the canning industry.
On the other hand, tourism has become one of its pillars because many people consider Tapia de Casariego a second home or for a getaway.
The cuisine is predominantly seafood-based with the star products being barnacles, sea bass, bonito, hake, spider crab, or lobster, among many others. It also has vegetables and delicacies grown on the land.
Don't miss out on gastronomic events like the Jornada del Pincho y la Tapa or the Jornadas del Bonito, which take place throughout the year.
Another thing to keep in mind are its celebrations, such as those in honor of Nuestra Señora del Carmen's patron saint in mid-July, or the Festival Intercéltico d'Occidente and its Medieval Market in early August, which has become a gathering place for fans of Celtic culture.
Don't miss out on the chance to experience Tapia de Casariegos' maritime soul because it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and even better if it coincides with rural tourism.
