The Asturian “El Dorado”

Go to Image The Asturian 'El Dorado'
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These are rugged, one might even say hostile, lands which have given shape to a truly beautiful landscape.

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The Asturian 'El Dorado'
GPS: 43.27498065752759, -6.372774887132837

Tineo - Tuña - Navelgas - Allande - Montefurado

Day 1: Tuña - Cangas del Narcea - Monte Furado 40

The car is the best means of transport to undertake this adventure. The tour takes you first to "Tuña", which is approximately an hour's drive from Oviedo, first on the Autovía de la Espina dual carriageway (A-63), then the AS-15 towards Cangas del Narcea and finally the AS-310.This small village is famous for its country houses, mansions and hórreos (raised granaries-cum-storehouses), besides being the birthplace of liberal general Rafael del Riego. In just a short distance you can find Cabo del Río Mansion and Flórez Valdés Mansion, as well as the Tower House and the monument to the chosco, a hardy, cured sausage that constitutes one of the foods most typical of the borough.

Back in the car, you then head for the borough capital on the AS-215 towards Cangas de Narcea and then the AS-215 on the right, which leads to Tineo in about 25 minutes. The millennial town has preserved examples of rural architecture of great value, so you can park the car and walk around the town, taking in the town hall and Merás Mansion, Plaza de Las Campas, the original Church of San Pedro and García Tineo Mansion. A little further from the centre of town are the Chapels of San Roque and El Viso. The neighbourhood of Cimadevilla is worth a mention apart.

Returning to the car, the tour continues on towards Navelgas, located twenty-five kilometres away on the AS-217 (about a forty-minute drive). Navelgas is the gold centre of this land, being home to the Asturias Gold Museum (MOA) and gold panning clubs, which organize world competitions. After visiting the museum, you can follow the 3-kilometre (round-trip) Gold Traces Trail, which starts from a recreational area that is accessed via a path next to the petrol station. This trail takes in ancient Roman mine workings.

Day 2: Navelgas - San Martín de Beduledo 50

The second day is reserved for Allande, a borough located to the southwest of Tineo. From Navelgas, you reach Pola de Allande on the AS-219, and the capital of this borough is the starting point of the day's tour. "La Puella" is a small town boasting a number of hidden treasures. Its streets invite you to discover Cienfuegos Mansion and "Indiano" villas built by returning emigrants who had made their fortune in the Americas. Only 7 kilometres away is San Martín de Beduelo. Via a track accessible to cars, this village leads to San Chuis Hill Fort, an example of the hill fort culture which is free of charge to visit.

The journey continues in the afternoon along the AS-14 towards Grandas de Salime to finally end in Montefurado. Here you can find the Fana de la Freita Excavation and Xuan Cave Site, which are also old gold mines. This point is also on the Way of St James, so you can see a small stretch of the pilgrim trail here.