Gargoyles in Asturias

The gargoyles in Asturias are part of a sculptural tradition that, since the Middle Ages, has endowed buildings with elements that are both functional and symbolic. These figures, conceived for water drainage, also acquire an iconographic value that reflects beliefs, fears, and expressive resources characteristic of each historical context.

At present, the photographic archive documents various gargoyles across the province, among which those of Oviedo Cathedral stand out, one of the main landmarks of Asturian artistic heritage, where these sculptures form part of the architectural and ornamental programme of the building.

Some of these gargoyles can be explored in greater depth in the blog post devoted to this building, where their iconography is analysed and contextualised within their artistic and historical framework.

The following gallery presents a selection of gargoyles in Asturias, documented photographically in various buildings across the province, including Oviedo Cathedral.

Gargoyle on Oviedo Cathedral. A mythological creature: a griffin.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle on Oviedo Cathedral. The water flows from the anus.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle on the Cathedral of Oviedo. A naked man.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle on the Cathedral of Oviedo. A demon with breasts and a marked trachea.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Demonic gargoyle on the Cathedral of Oviedo.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle on the Cathedral of Oviedo. A real animal: a bird.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle on the Cathedral of Oviedo. A real animal: a toad.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a fantastic animal: a griffin.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a bird.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a fantastic animal: a griffin.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a fantastic animal: a griffin.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a fantastic animal: a griffin.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a fantastic animal: a griffin.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a dog or a cat.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a dog or a cat.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a dog or a cat.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a dog or a cat.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a dog or a cat.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a dog or a cat.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a dog or a cat.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a dog or a cat.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is an anthropomorph.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a demon.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a demon.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gárgola de la Catedral de Oviedo

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a demon.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gárgola de la Catedral de Oviedo

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a demon.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gárgola de la Catedral de Oviedo

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is an anthropomorph.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gárgola de la Catedral de Oviedo

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a ram.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gárgola de la Catedral de Oviedo

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a monster.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gárgola de la Catedral de Oviedo

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is an anthropomorph.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a demon.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a human figure.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gárgola de la Catedral de Oviedo

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is an animal monster.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a human figure.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gárgola de la Catedral de Oviedo

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a human figure.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gárgola de la Catedral de Oviedo

Monstrous gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a lion.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a dog.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a dog.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a dog.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is an animal monster.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a dog.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a lion.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a lion.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a lion.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a lion.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a lion.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a lion.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a mythological animal: a griffin.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

Gargoyle from Oviedo Cathedral. It is a real animal: a lion.

Oviedo Cathedral (Spain)

These images are part of the documentary archive dedicated to the study of gargoyles created by Dolores Herrero Ferrio, focused on the research, documentation, and dissemination of these sculptural figures in Spain and other countries.

All photographs in this gallery are the property of Dolores Herrero © doloresherrero.com.
They are protected by copyright.
For academic, educational, editorial or any other use, please contact:
lola@doloresherrero.com.