Temple’s program in Spain is located in Oviedo, a lively and picturesque city ideal for study abroad. Oviedo offers much to see, do, and experience. Students rave about their home-away-from-home at Temple in Spain for many reasons.
Mix of modern and historic
In Oviedo and nearby Gijon, students enjoy the pristine cobblestone pedestrian old town center, historic sites, museums, restaurants, and markets.
More relaxed, social lifestyle
Students appreciate the different pace of life and the very social atmosphere, with people of all ages regularly enjoying local events and nightlife. Unlike other major Spanish cities, Oviedo is often less crowded, allowing for a more relaxed and authentic travel experience.
Spain’s “Natural Paradise”
Oviedo is home to many beautiful parks, while also close to the mountains and the beach. The region of Asturias, in which Oviedo is situated, is dubbed Spain’s “Natural Paradise;” students often take a short bus ride out to beaches along the rugged coastline of the Cantabrian Sea and hike trails throughout the nearby mountains, including the Picos de Europa national park.
Easy and affordable transportation and travel
Transportation within Oviedo and Asturias is very affordable, while travel to other areas of Spain and other locations in Europe is easy. Oviedo is well connected by bus, rail and air.
On weekends, my friends and I would often take day trips to different parts of Asturias and go hiking or exploring. Asturias is such a breathtaking and mountainous region, and the bus systems in Spain are really efficient.
Allie Capasso
Spring 2019
One of the biggest advantages when choosing Oviedo as an exchange destination is the ease of traveling, both inside and outside the country, and how cheap it is. In Oviedo it is very common to go on getaways after the exam weeks and the airport has plenty of cheap flights within Spain such as Sevilla, Valencia, Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Ibiza.
Leo Muela Poo
Exchange student from Oviedo, 2023
I learned sooo much Spanish! I spent my meals with my host mom, Carmen, either speaking with her or watching Spanish TV. All of my classes were completely taught in Spanish, and I communicated with my classmates in our shared second (or third) language. I made friends with people in the student organizations and we met up for coffee and stumbled over words and verb tenses together. I even attended workout classes that were taught in Spanish!
Rachel Murphy
Spring 2019
Fun facts about Oviedo and Asturias
- Asturias was named one of Nat Geo’s Best Trips for 2020.
- Anthony Bourdain filmed his last show in Asturias.
- Each year, Oviedo hosts the prestigious Princess of Asturias Awards (Spain’s ‘Nobel’ prize).
- Asturias boasts UNESCO World Heritage Sites including The Way of St. James, pre-Romanesque monuments (including Santa María del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo, and San Julián de los Prados), and Paleolithic Cave Art. Its cider (cidra) tradition is on UNESCO’s intangible culture list.
- Asturias accounts for almost 1% of all the Biosphere Reserves on the planet.