The Battle of Covadonga of c. 722 was the first Christian victory in the Iberian Peninsula over the Arabs invading from north Africa under the Umayyad banner, and is often considered to be the start of the almost eight century-long effort to expel Muslim rulers governing Iberia during the Reconquista. Our Lady of Covadonga is a significant Marian shrine. The Spanish Army has, over the years, named several of its units "Covadonga".

In the mountains above the town are located the two lakes of Covadonga, Enol and Ercina, and the road leading to the lakes is often featured in the Vuelta a España bicycle race.

The Sanctuary of Covadonga is a monument dedicated to Our Lady of Covadonga that commemorates the Battle of Covadonga. It comprises the

• Basílica de Santa María la Real de Covadonga ("Basilica of Saint Mary the Royal of Covadonga"), a church built in the 19th century to a design by Roberto Frassinelli,
• Santa Cueva de Covadonga ("Holy Cave of Covadonga"), in which the bodies of Kings Pelagius and Alfonso I lie,
• Collegiate church of Nuestra Señora de Covadonga, built in the 16th century and declared a Bien de Interés Cultural ("Property of Cultural Interest") in 1884,
• Monasterio de San Pedro ("Monastery of Saint Peter"), and
• Esplanade, with the Museum of the Real Sitio de Covadonga ("Royal Site of Covadonga").

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  Basilica of Santa María la Real of Covadonga
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  Cueva de Santa María
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  Hermitage
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  Chapter House
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  A horse eats grass beside Lake Ercina

• Alfonso, Count of Covadonga
• Edelmira, Countess of Covadonga
• Spanish schooner Virgen de Covadonga

• Amigos de Covadonga

• Covadonga
• Real sitio de Covadonga

43°19′00″N 5°03′00″W / 43.316667°N 5.05°W / 43.316667; -5.05