To spot the Royal Institute of Asturian Studies, just look for a historic stone building with a shiny plaque outside, displaying a crown-topped crest right at eye level as you stroll along Plaza Porlier.
Alright, you’re standing in front of a place that’s a bit like the brain of Asturias-except, unlike our brains, this institute proudly wears a crown! The story of the Royal Institute of Asturian Studies starts way back in 1946. Picture post-war Spain: the streets are quieter, the city’s air feels heavy with hope and hard work. Inside these walls, a group of local legends-think top Asturian thinkers with wild, brilliant ideas-gathered under the Patronage of José María Torres Quadrado. Their mission? To rescue, protect, and level-up everything that makes Asturias truly Asturian, from art to science to culture.
You might notice the name 'Real'-royal-on that plaque. That title was a serious upgrade, gifted by the king in 1992, after almost fifty years of hard work and a little royal recognition from Prince Felipe himself, who became the honorary president. Today, the Institute still buzzes with minds focused on the past, present, and future of Asturias-preserving treasures like the ancient manuscripts of thinkers such as Jovellanos and Pardo Bazán. If these documents could talk, they’d probably share juicy secrets and poetic wisdom all night long!
Every time you step closer, just imagine shelves bending under the weight of rare books and manuscripts, some written in faded ink, carrying the silent echo of history. Now and then, they celebrate big anniversaries with exhibits, opening up their treasure chest to show everyone these wonders. Not bad for a building that looks so calm on the outside, right? So, if you hear laughter or deep discussion drifting from the windows, don’t be surprised-it’s just history getting a little livelier every day!
