Industrial heritage

The industrial heritage of Asturias’ Central Mountain area—encompassing Aller, Lena, Mieres, Morcín, Riosa, and Ribera de Arriba—stands as a living, human testament to generations tied to coal mining. Features such as headframes, mine entrances, and old railway lines are woven into the identity of local towns; notable landmarks include the Turón Valley, home to the Santa Bárbara Shaft (designated an Asset of Cultural Interest), and the unique mining settlement of Bustiello, which illustrates how the mine shaped the workers’ daily lives.

This historical legacy extends to sites like the San Fernando Shaft in Aller and the Texeo Mines in Riosa, many of which have since been transformed into greenways. Far from romanticizing the past through nostalgia, the county offers an honest, unvarnished perspective, inviting visitors to explore a landscape that reveals the hard work, transformation, and pride of a community whose character remains deeply connected to its mining history.