Asturias has its own museum dedicated to gold . The Gold Museum of Asturias (MOA) is a unique space to learn in detail about the geology of gold, its origin, the types of deposits, gold deposits around the world, and extraction techniques.
The museum is located in the village of Navelgas , in the municipality of Tineo, and offers a comprehensive overview of ancient and religious stories related to the search for gold and the fierce motivation of entire peoples to possess it. It's a fascinating journey back to the Astures and Romans, including modern legends about power struggles, rituals, and symbols associated with gold.
The facility is located in the Capalleja mansion and has three floors. The ground floor serves as a reception area and introduces visitors to the museum's contents; it also includes a souvenir shop and a multipurpose room for conferences, talks, and screenings.
The first floor is dedicated to gold as a mineral and explains how the metal is formed from it. Replicas of various objects of significant historical importance are displayed in niches, and a timeline explains the entire history of gold, from the Neolithic period to the present day . This includes all the relevant dates and figures, from ancient Egypt to John Sutter and the gold rushes in California and South Africa.
The second floor is dedicated specifically to the history of gold mining in Navelgas . Visitors can see a detailed topographical model of the area, highlighting the main mining sites during Roman times and the associated tourist routes. This floor also features a recreation of a water channel carved into the rock, similar to those used by the Romans. An adjacent area explains the sport of gold panning, depicting a section of the Navelgas River and various tools used for extracting gold.
The Gold Valley
Gold panning is a highly significant activity in Navelgas, as the town hosts national, European, and world championships for this sport. Visitors to the museum can also try their hand at the Gold Panning Workshop , an essential activity to complete the visit and connect with the gold panners of the past.
Near the museum, you can take a walk following the traces of Roman mining operations . The area near the town of Navelgas is known as "the Valley of Gold," given the abundance of gold deposits.
The Navelgas mines are unique in that they form part of a complex exploited through underground trenches, which are still visible. The ore-washing channels and sluices of Lavadoira and Santiago de Cerredo, the large mines in the Sierra de L'Ouro, between Navelgas and Naraval, and the channels and reservoirs of the "Presa del Moro" (Moor's Dam) all bear witness to the efforts made to obtain the precious metal.
There is evidence of gold mining in these lands dating back to the Iron Age of the Astures . The Roman Empire's settlement allowed us to know the valley as we know it today. They were the ones who built several mines, moving millions of tons of rock and earth that were washed with water from streams and rivers that they diverted specifically for this purpose.
At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, the Navelgas mines were exploited by a group of Englishmen, later creating the Asturian Gold Mining Company which, between 1950 and 1956, again exploited these mines.
Photos provided by the Tineo Gold Museum.
Gold Museum Hours
MONDAY: Closed.
TUESDAY: 11 a.m. to 14 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: 11 a.m. to 14 p.m. and 16 p.m. to 18 p.m.
THURSDAY: 11 a.m. to 14 p.m. and 16 p.m. to 18 p.m.
FRIDAY: 11 a.m. to 14 p.m. and 16 p.m. to 18 p.m.
SATURDAY: 11 a.m. to 14 p.m. and 16 p.m. to 19 p.m.
SUNDAY: 11 a.m. to 14 p.m.
WEEKENDS CLOSED 2026
May 9 and 10
May 30 and 31
June 20 and 21
September 19 and 20
October 17 and 18
November 21 and 22
December 19th and 20th
Changes may occur* Always contact the museum beforehand.
Gold Museum Rates
· Admission to the general public: €2,50.
· Reduced ticket: €1,50
For children aged 3 to 12.
Recomended age of over 65.
Groups of more than 15 people.
Travel agencies and tour operators.
· Free entrance:
Children 0-3 years.
Every Wednesday of the year.
International Museum Day (May 18).
MOA Anniversary (July 21).
Gold panning workshop: Due to the increase in the price of gold, the current fee is €5 (April 21, 2026). Reservations made before this date will continue at the previous price.
Guided tour of the museum: free. (Not available during peak season).
Guided tour of the village of Navelgas: free. (Not available during peak season).
Guided tour of the Gold Trail: free. (Not available during peak season).
Source: Tineo Gold Museum.
Information:
Address:
Barrio San Nicolás, s / n
33873 Navelgas, Tineo
Telephone Number: 985 80 60 18
The locality of Navelgas, in the western interior of Asturias, council of Tineo, is 100 Kms. Of Oviedo.
Navelgas can be accessed from the Interior or along the coast:
Interior / Tineo: From Oviedo, Gijón and Avilés to La Espina (N-634). Continue direction Tineo (AS-216), and take Bárcena de Monasterio diversion (AS-217) where we find the detour to Navelgas (AS-219).
Coast / Luarca: From Oviedo, Gijón and Avilés to A Coruña for the N-632, N-634 or E-70. When arriving at the center of Luarca, take AS-219 direction Pola de Allande until you reach Navelgas.
Trip to the mines: Leaving Navelgas in the direction of Luarca, before reaching the gas station, we turn off to the right following the track that leads to a recreational area and, later, to the bowling alley. On both sides there are two trails, and we have to take the one on the right hand to start the climb to the old farm. From there, we continue along the path to visit the rest of the Roman mines, as well as ethnographic remains present along the way.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
