First Landing of Charles V

On 19 September 1517, the young Prince Charles of Habsburg, who would become Emperor Charles V and the most powerful man on earth at that time, landed in Tazones with his court, unplanned and pushed by the bad sea conditions at the time. The young Fleming, son of Juana la Loca and Felipe el Hermoso, was given a singular reception by the humble fishing village that this fishing town was five hundred years ago.

At first they mistook him for a pirate...

Once his royal presence was identified, everything changed, and the locals poured out their attentions to the young emperor, who was captivated by the hospitality of the people and the beauty of the land where he had arrived.

Soon, such a casual and unexpected arrival turned into a feast....

As there was no place to accommodate so many noble people, the emperor decided to stay in Villaviciosa, where he stayed for three days.

This curious anecdote has given rise to the Fiesta del Desembarco de Carlos V - celebrated for several decades -, which takes place on the first day in Tazones and the following day in Villaviciosa, and which has a great popular participation, and many people dress up in period costume, and hundreds of visitors watch the whole historical scene attentively. An event that has made the municipality of Villaviciosa worthy of being included in the Council of Europe's Cultural Itinerary of the "European Routes of the Emperor Charles V".

Consult the programme