Legends of Asturias — Mountain Spirits & the Birth of the Reconquista

Explore the legends of Asturias, where the Reconquista began and mountain spirits called Xanas guard hidden treasures in ancient caves.

<p Asturias, the green principality wedged between the Cantabrian Mountains and the sea, is where Spain's history was reborn. In 722, at the Battle of Covadonga, the Reconquista began — and legend says that the Virgin Mary herself guided the Christian warriors to victory.</p

<p The mountains of Asturias are home to the Xanas, beautiful water nymphs who comb their golden hair by moonlit streams. The Trasgu, a mischievous household imp, delights in pranks, while the Nuberu rides the storm clouds to bring hail and lightning.</p

<p Asturian folklore carries the weight of a thousand years of resistance, resilience, and reverence for the wild peaks that sheltered a kingdom.</p