Tuña combines the Dolmen de Merillés, in the surrounding area, with a village known for its many palaces and manor houses. The dolmen is considered one of Asturias’s finest megalithic monuments. At the same time, Tuña’s historic houses are privately owned and can only be viewed from the outside. These two highlights offer different experiences: for the hike, consider the route’s length, duration and difficulty; for the houses, the focus is on their exterior. When planning your stay, you can first decide whether hiking or history and architecture will be your main focus.

Hike to the Dolmen de Merillés

The Senda del Dolmen de Merillés on the PR AS-256 leads to the dolmen. The route can start in Tuña or Merillés; the starting point depends on your preferred route length. The section from Tuña is described as a linear route. The stated distance of 8.2 kilometres and duration of three hours apply to the round trip. The difficulty is moderate to high. This gives you a concrete basis for planning your time: the three hours cover the entire out-and-back route, not a one-way trip. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

The dolmen is located in the area around Tuña, and the hike leads to a megalithic monument considered one of the finest in Asturias. If you choose this route, you can plan for both the designated trail and its historic destination. Being able to start in Tuña or Merillés lets you choose according to your preferred route length; however, the 8.2 kilometres and three hours given here refer specifically to the round trip on the section from Tuña.

Landscape and recreation area

Another geological feature in the area is the Fana de Genestaza. It lies on the western slope of the Sierra de la Cabra (1,429 metres) and is considered a remarkable geological phenomenon in Asturias. Access and viewing conditions may vary; check them locally. This makes it possible to explore this landscape as a separate focus, distinct from the designated hike to the dolmen.

The Área Recreativa de Tuña is on the banks of the Faxeirúa River, near the road to Genestaza. The site has a spring, a car park, a barbecue area and tables. Hikes on the route to the Dolmen de Merillés and the Camino Natural de la Cordillera Cantábrica are also associated with the recreation area. As visitor facilities and trail conditions may change, it is worth checking locally.

Historic houses and Riego

The many palaces and manor houses define Tuña’s architectural character. There is an important practical limitation to bear in mind: the historic houses are privately owned and can only be viewed from the outside. Plan your visit with the exterior architecture in mind.

The history of Rafael del Riego is also connected with Tuña: he was born here in 1784. The village has a bust of General Riego and a plaque commemorating Tuña’s designation as a Pueblo Ejemplar in 2000. Together, his birthplace, the bust and the plaque add a historical dimension alongside the palaces and manor houses.

Choose the focus of your stay

When looking for a hotel in Tuña, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on. For the hike to the dolmen, the moderate-to-high difficulty and the three hours for the round trip are key planning considerations. If you are more interested in history and architecture, another focus is the historic houses, which can only be viewed from the outside, along with the Riego memorials. The Fana de Genestaza and the recreation area add their own visitor conditions to the landscape and hiking options. This way, you can choose the activities that best suit your stay.

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Go to the main travel overview: Tineo.