Some 900 km from the capital Barcelona, Avilés was formerly an old fishing and farming town, but has developed to become a modern metropolis bridging the past and the future. One of the major cities of Asturias province, you would be amazed by the beauty of the civil and religious architectures emanating with rich history and culture, such as the Church of Sabugo and Ferrera Palace. Many of the buildings are influenced by Pre-Romanesque art renowned for its aesthetic beauty and innovative design.
What links Avilés to the future and open up a gateway to the world is the famous International Oscar Niemeyer Center, which you can see at the bottom left of the postcard. It has two dome shaped structures, of which the left looks as though like a dissected boiled egg showing the yellow yolk. That is in fact auditorium that could house some 1000 seats for conferences, concerts and theater plays. The dome on the right is the exhibition hall.
This amazingly futuristic architecture, opened to public on May 26, 2011, was a gift from the Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer (1907-2012), who dedicated one of his life's greatest works for the sake of humankind on the occasion of the 25th anniversary celebration of Prince of Asturias Awards. Between the two domes is a huge open space, where Mr Niemeyer called it an 'open space for humankind', supposedly designed for an open, no-barrier exchange of people of different races and cultural identities. He described in his own words - "An open space for humankind, a place for education, culture and peace." Sadly, the esteemed architecture passed away a year later on December 5, 2012.
I wonder how nice it would be to sit by the Avilés coast watching the seafaring vessels docking in and out, while proceeding to the Niemeyer Center for a delightful concert. That would be a dream vacation!
