House of the Hevia Family

Chapter 6/12 · Villaviciosa

This is the House of the Hevia family, one of the finest houses of the old Puebla de Maliayo, from the late 15th century. It is square, with three storeys: below, a porch with two doorways; on the second floor, a gallery with a wooden balustrade; and at the top, large eaves.

Here, from 19 to 23 September 1517, the young Charles of Ghent stayed. He was coming from Flanders with his sister Eleanor to take possession of the kingdoms of his grandparents, the Catholic Monarchs, and was heading for Santander, but bad weather made him land at Tazones. The house belonged to Rodrigo de Hevia, precentor, or choirmaster, of Oviedo Cathedral, and in gratitude the king granted him the two coats of arms with the imperial eagle that you see on the façade. Under the roof survives the small chamber, about 12 square metres, where he spent his first nights in Spain.

Today the house belongs to the town: the Tourist Office is on the ground floor, and upstairs is the exhibition «The King's First Journey», with a replica of the Order of the Golden Fleece and a model of the ship that brought him. Next door you will see Casa España, also called the Archdeacon's House or Casa de la Fábrica, once the home of the writer Alejandro Casona and now a hotel.

We carry on along Calle del Sol towards the Caleyina de les Indies.

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