The then Princess of Asturias Mª de las Mercedes, sister of Alfonso XIII, took part in the embroidery of that flag invited by Manuela Miguvarri, wife of the illustrious Gijonese Claudio Alvarzonález, 'Hero de Abtao'

On June 10, 1888, on the Royal Sites of Covadonga took place the blessing of the battle flag of the Pelayo battleship, a warship of beautiful stamp, majestic bearing and pride of the Navy, measuring 104.05 meters in length, 20.20 meters in manga, 7.55 meters in plateau with a strength of 630 men.

Coinciding with the Covadonga Centenaries - the creation of the National Park of the Mountain, Coronation of the Virgin and 1300 years of the origins of the Kingdom of Astoria - the Alvarzonález Foundation organizes the exhibition 'Covadonga and the battle flag of the Pelayo battleship', with the aim of making known the unique history of this warship linked to Gijón, the Alvarzonález family and the Royal Site of Covadonga. In the exhibition that opens its doors on Friday, October 5, visitors will be able to know the origins, characteristics and history of the Pelayo battleship, which received the name in honor of the King of Asturias and the originator of the Reconquest - and will place special emphasis on the blessing and delivery of the flag to that battleship.

"On June 10, 1888, the blessing of the Pelayo's battle flag took place. The link of that battleship - emblem at the time of the Spanish Navy - with Asturias came marked by the name of it, hence the creation of a society in Gijón that had the sole purpose of drawing up the flag of combat that would carry with it the Ship. Thus was born the Board of Ladies of the Principality of Asturias, chaired by Manuela Miguvarri and Zunzunegui, woman of Brigadier Claudio Alvarzonález", says Ramón Alvarzonález, director of the Alvarzonález Foundation. As noted in Manuela's speech, which can be seen in a panel of the show, for the embroidery of that flag was counted with the help of the then Princess of Asturias, the Infanta María de las Mercedes Borbón and Habsburgo-Lorraine.

Following the dismantling of the ship in the Netherlands in 1926, the Pelayo combat flag arrived at the Museum of Covadonga along with a monumental furniture-case, which can be visited in the Exhibition Room of the Foundation given by the Museum. The Furniture took over the flag and both were exhibited until the civil war, but in that contest the flag disappeared from the Sanctuary and its fate was unknown.

The exhibition will include, in addition to the Mueble- case of the flag, a model of the Pelayo battleship given by the Maritime Museum of Asturias, photographs of the period, information panels and a marine uniform from the end of the 19th century of the collection of the Alvarzonález Foundation.

The exhibition will be open to the public from 5 to 30 October at the following time: 12 to 1.30 p.m. and 18 to 20.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday; Saturdays from 12 to 1.30 p.m. Sundays and holidays will remain closed. This exhibition is the number 273 organized by the Alvarzonález Foundation in its 26 years of history.