Quintes
| Quintes | |
|---|---|
| Country |  |
| Autonomous Community |  |
| Region | Gijón |
| Town Council | Villaviciosa |
Quintes is one of the westernmost towns of the municipality of Villaviciosa. It is located on the left side of the river called río España, 17 km from Villaviciosa and 14 km from Gijón. It is a coastal town with beautiful cliffs that look out over the Cantábrico from considerable heights. The Spanish beach, in the estuary of the Rio España, receives a large number of visitors throughout the year, especially during the peak holiday season.
How to get there
To get to the town, from Gijón, take highway N-632 toward Villaviciosa and, 12 km from Gijón, in the Venta de la esperanza (Sale of Hope), take a left turn towards Quintes and the Playa España (Spanish Beach). You can also take A-8 towards Santander at 7 minutes. You will run into the Quintes exit which will take you to the Venta de la esperanza. From the crossroads to the center of the town, with the church and school are about 2 km away.
Territory and Population
It is formed by the districts of Santa Ana, Medio and CImadevilla. It is approximately 5 km squared, and a population of approximately 500 which doubles in the summer and during vacation season.
In the past the population was dedicated to farming and cattle ranching, but now the jobs of the secondary sector predominate, and also those of the service sector.
Although Quintes has experienced a large boom, it is still privileged to be near large city and yet also in a peaceful environment. Like in the rest of Spain, Quintes is experiencing laborious processes of speculation.
Also worth mentioning are the arenaceous quarries which are a great tradition of the area.
Terrain and Climate
Quinites occupies a flat coast bordering the valley of the River Spain in the east and parted in two by the Riega de Escalera which was originally a small depression that runs from the south to the north and separates the districts of Santa Ana and Medio.
Its terrain is predominantly flat except for the depression previously mentioned and the part corresponding to the valley of Spain which is more sloping.
The climate is humid with generally mild temperatures.
Flora and fauna
The land of Quintes is occupied by meadows and farm land in the flat areas. Near the River Spain are forests of eucalyptus, some few autochthonous trees (mainly laurels, chestnuts, oaks and hazels), and some scrubs, ferns, and brambles. The wild animals are typical of a coastal area with some marine birds, such as gulls and hawks, and migratory birds including thrushes and starlings. In the forests there are weasels, squirrels, boars and foxes.
Cuisine
Fish and seafood are caught in large quantities and constitute the base of the typical cuisine of the town. Dishes such as stews with clams, shrimp, spider crabs, and congers delight even the most demanding palates. All of this is watered down with cider which is also produced in abundance as much as in small cider plants as industrial ones.
Festivals
The renowned festivals of Santa Ana are celebrated on the 26th, 27th, and 28 July. During these days the meadows are covered in (campaña) stores, and a large quantity of youths and adults amass in excess.
There are other festivals throughout the year, and one that stands out is celebrated on the 20th of January in honor of Saint Fabián and Saint Sebastian, the patrons of the town.
One cannot forget the Gastronomical Festival of la Llámpara, which is celebrated in spring in Quintes and Quintueles, organizaed by the Recreational Cultural Society Clarín of Quintes in collaboration with the hostels of both towns.
References
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