Oviedo is now officially the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy 2024, a distinction for which three other cities in the country, Alicante, Antequera and Castellón, were competing, and which is followed by Cuenca, which held the title in 2023. The capital of the Principality of Yesterday Asturias became the gastronomic capital, after its mayor, Alfredo Canteli, signed the agreement that accredits it. Next week, the mayor of Cuenca will present the trophy to his Oviedo counterpart, which will mark the starting signal for a year of activities in the city to praise and publicize local and regional gastronomy.
During his speech, Canteli pointed out that the fact that Oviedo is the Capital of Gastronomy in 2024 is not only positive for Oviedo, but it is positive for all of Asturias. That is why he has asked the president, Adrián Barbón, to "help" to attract more visitors to the community. "We have a huge journey," he said, involving the improvement of tourism data for the Principality, hospitality and commerce of Oviedo.
The signing took place in the Plenary Hall of the Oviedo City Council, where, in addition to the mayor, the president of the Principality attended; the Councilor for Hospitality, Alfredo Quintana; the president of the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy, Mariano Palacín; and the vice president of Hospitality of Spain and president of Otea, José Luis Álvarez Almeida.
This was the third time that Oviedo was presented as a candidate for gastronomic capital, after having tried in 2012 and in 2022. This time, and on the occasion of its election, the jury highlighted when the distinction was announced, in November, that the city was worthy of it for "being the banner of Asturian cuisine, a cuisine that conquers. Dishes such as fabada, cachopo or its incomparable cheeses and excellent seafood. Oviedo conquers the palates of the Spanish."
The title of Spanish Capital of Gastronomy was created in 2012, in order to promote tourism through cuisine and is organized by the Spanish Federation of Tourism Journalists and Writers, in collaboration with the Hospitality Association of Spain. The objective is to distinguish the city that has stood out the most in the promotion of gastronomy, as one of the main attractions for tourism.
Last year, Cuenca was the one that won this title, beating the now distinguished city of Oviedo and Pontevedra. In 2023, the recognition came for a traditional, austere and simple cuisine, which connected with the natural and monumental environment, according to the jury, and which was linked to a pantry based on quality products and with the Denomination of Origin seal.
