Avilés - Santo Tomás de Canterbury

The first known document is an endowment of two churches by Asturias King Alfonso III, in 905. During the Middle Ages, it was one of the most important ports of the Biscay Bay, trading mainly with French ports. At this time, it had two nuclei: a fishermen's district, Sabugo, and the aristocratic centre, La Villa, standing each other across a small water inlet. La Villa was surrounded by strong walls, which demonstrated its strategic and commercial importance. In 1479 the Catholic Monarchs granted a free market on each Monday of the year, which still takes place.

Santo Tomás de Canterbury (also known as ‘iglesia vieja de Sabugo’) is the old church of Sabugo. It is a Romanesque church that was probably begun in the 13th century. The church has a single nave and a basilica floor plan that ends in a semi-circular choir facing east.