Tuña: Palaces, History and Trails in Asturias

Tuña is known for its numerous palaces and manor houses and is also the birthplace of General Riego. Rafael del Riego was born here in 1784. Tuña has a bust of General Riego and a commemorative plaque marking its designation as a Pueblo Ejemplar in 2000.

These three fields can be assessed independently of the town’s attractions and help keep your own booking decision clearly separate from the historical and landscape impressions.

Other destinations in the regional selection include Tineo, Naraval, Espinaredo, Bustiello, Navelgas and Baradal.

Culture

The Palacio Barreiro in Tuña has two distinctive square towers. One of them may form the original core of the palace, dating from the 14th century, while the rest was built in the 18th century. The Iglesia Santa María de Pedrero has a Latin-cross floor plan and a magnificent façade made of pink ashlar stone from the Espinaréu quarry. It preserves a main altarpiece from the late 18th century, Baroque altarpieces in the Riego Chapel and family tombs from the 19th century.

The historic buildings also include the Casa de la Torre and the Casa de Cienfuegos. The Casa de la Torre comprises a medieval defensive tower from the 14th century with later additions. The Casa de Cienfuegos is an original medieval tower from the 14th century that was later expanded with adjoining buildings. The historic houses of Tuña are privately owned and can only be viewed from the outside.

Nature

The Fana de Genestaza in the wider surroundings of Tuña lies on the western slope of the Sierra de la Cabra (1,429 metres) and is a remarkable geological phenomenon in Asturias.

The Dolmen de Merillés in the wider surroundings of Tuña is considered one of the most beautiful megalithic monuments in Asturias. It can be reached via the PR AS-256 hiking route, which begins in Tuña or Merillés, depending on the desired route length.

Hiking

The Senda del Dolmen de Merillés on the PR AS-256 follows a linear section from Tuña, has a moderate to high difficulty level and covers 8.2 kilometres for the outward and return journey, taking three hours. From Tuña, the PR AS-256 leads across the Puente del Carral over the River Tuña.

The information on the starting point, length, duration and difficulty level provides different points of comparison for planning your day.

Geographical Setting

The Área Recreativa de Tuña is located on the banks of the Faxeirúa River near the road to Genestaza. It has a spring, a car park, a barbecue area and tables. The recreational area provides access to the route to the Dolmen de Merillés and the Camino Natural de la Cordillera Cantábrica.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Tineo.