Places to visit in Asturias

Escuela Asturiana de Piragüismo

Finca Fundición de Coviella, El Portazgu
33540 Arriondas
Tel: 985 84 12 82, www.piraguismo.com

This centre organises various outdoor activities including canoe/kayak descents down the river Sella. Trips take around 2-3 hours, previous experience is unnecessary & lifejackets are provided but you must be able to swim 50m. The river is also the setting for an annual international canoeing event, with hundreds of participants.

Open all year, weather permitting. Exit the A8 at Arriondas/Cangas - the centre is by the roundabout.

Fundación Archivo de Indianos

33590 Colombres
(80k west of Santander off the N634)
Tel: 985 41 20 05

Indianos is a name given to those who emigrated to America at the turn of the 19th/20thC, seeking fortune. Many of them contributed to the development of those countries & made great fortunes. Some returned to their villages in Spain & built what are known as the Indiano mansions which are unique & quite impressive. The museum of the Indianos is set in one of these mansions & it shows part of their history through different pictures & instruments.

Open June-Sept 11.00-14.00 & 17.00-20.00, 1 Oct-31 May 10.00-14.00 & 16.00-19.00, Sun 10.00-14.00. Closed Mon all year.

Museo de la Minería y de la Industria

C/ El Trabanquin, s/n
33940 El Entrego
(24k south-east of Oviedo)
Tel: 985 66 31 33

This is an interesting replica of a coal mine in the heart of the mining area of Asturias. In the main building is an exhibition of many types of industrial machinery which quickly developed due to the use of coal. You can then take a lift to a mine gallery where you will walk for quite a distance to see all sorts of mining machinery and techniques.

Open 10.30-14.00 & 16.00-19.00 (closed Mon). Sun 10.30-14.00 only.

Museo del Jurásico de Asturias

LG Rasa de San Telmo, s/n
33328 Colunga - San Juan de Duz
Tel: 902 306 600

Modern, futuristic building housing a museum dedicated to the Jurassic age. There are fossils and fantastic reproductions of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs known to man, and all kinds of audiovisual presentations to bring this prehistoric era to life.

Open daily at Easter and from July to mid Sept 11.00-14.00 and 16.00-20.00. Rest of year open Weds to Sun 11.00-14.00 and 16.00-18.00 (closed Mon/Tues).

Museo del Ferrocarril de Asturias

Plaza de Estación del Norte s/n
Playa de Poniente
33206 Gijon
Tel: 985 30 85 75

Asturias was the second region in Spain to have a railway. The train museum of Gijon occupies a large area of 17,000 square metres, including the old railway station of Estacion del Norte. You'll find a fascinating collection of over 300 pieces, including 50 different restored steam engines and locomotives. Many are still in good working order. This museum tells the story of how the railway in Asturias was constructed, and what its development meant for other industries such as mining.

Open Tues to Sun from 10am - 2pm & 4 - 8pm

Nautica Costa Verde S.A.

Alvarez Garaya, 712-B
33206 Gijon
Tel: 629 41 90 85

This company organises boat trips on both motor and sail boats. Trips are of various durations, ranging from one hour sailing along the bay near Gijon, to longer day trips with stopovers in several nearby fishing villages on the Asturian coast.

Available all year, these trips must be reserved in advance