I only had three days in Oviedo but wanted to see as many parks and green spaces as I could in that time. I visited parks in all the Spanish cities in which we stayed and I think the beautiful park of San Francisco in Oviedo was the most beautiful and a wonderful ‘entry’ into the old city.
Entrance to the town
The road from the west leads to this pretty roundabout and hints at the green spaces in the city.
Plaza de Espana
Our hotel was in the Calle Federico Lorca and from there it was a brief stroll to the Plaza de Espana which leads on to to the Park, and then the centre of the old town. Government buildings surround this quiet square but the fountains in the middle of the square create a feeling of tranquillity. There are statues all over the city and here there is a statue of the Goddess Hera (why?) and Neptune and Apollo. There is also a plaque to General Franco.
Park of San Francisco
The park was originally the kitchen garden and orchards of the San Francisco Convent. As early as the 16C the land was given for public use, and it was finally converted to a public park in the 19C. Today the park covers 22 acres in the centre of Oviedo. To remind visitors of the history of the park, perhaps, there is the Romanesque doorway from the Church of San Isidro. The Church was situated in the Plaza del Paraguas, close to the walls of the old town but it fell into disrepair and was demolished in the 1920s.
Children’s play area
All parks these days have a designated children’s play area and this was no exception!
Trees & plants in the park
There are over 900 trees in the park, and over 50 varieties, and apparently the oldest are over 300 years. Even though it was October the plants were still flowering and everything looked green and healthy.
Cycads 
Day lily 
Red cyclamens 
White cyclamens 
Pink cyclamens 
Tall bedding begonieas
Aspects of the park
At the end of the day
At the end of the day the ladies were paseoing, dressed very smartly indeed. Others were walking home, jogging, or just sitting.
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