Turnip Festival

The town of Sotrondio in San Martín del Rey Aurelio is the cozy setting for the Turnip Festival. This original gastronomic festival showcases the potential of culinary tradition and creative capacity in the heart of the Nalón Valley. In few places in Asturias can you taste such a tasty and healthy turnip stew as the one that comes out of the Sotrondio kitchens during the days of the festival.

The celebration coincides with the feast of Saint Martin of Tours, the patron saint of the municipality, and the main events include the solemn mass, the "puya'l ramu" (a traditional custom), the bagpipe and drum processions, the traditional dances, and of course, the presentation of the Golden Turnip, which is awarded each year to a prominent personality.

Therefore, the main day of the festival is November 11th, and on that day as well as the rest of the celebration days, the restaurants, cider houses, and eateries in Sotrondio offer the traditional turnip menu, which is usually accompanied by a second course of tripe stew and for dessert, a typical sweet such as casadielles, fayuelos, or rice pudding... A complete menu for the brave!

The turnip stew, starring this succulent vegetable, is prepared with a good "compango" (assorted meats), giving the dish the necessary consistency to combat the cold weather of the season.

Although the origin of this unique and original tradition is not known for certain, there is a legend that says it was King Aurelio of the Asturian monarchy, back in the year 774, who gave rise to this tradition by making this municipality the capital of the kingdom, and at that time turnips were an appreciated tuber in the culinary habits of the era.Gastronomy and legend come together in the Turnip Festival!

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