Villaviciosa between the estuary, coast and culture
Accommodation in Villaviciosa
Estuary, beach and surfing
The RĂa de Villaviciosa stretches from the area near Tazones, between El Puntal and Rodiles beaches, to the centre of Villaviciosa. Covering 1,500 hectares, it is an officially protected bird sanctuary. The landscape thus combines a protected natural area with named coastal locations and the centre of Villaviciosa.
At Playa de Rodiles, you’ll find an extensive, shady wooded area with tables and benches, as well as accessible paths. As visitor facilities can change, check local information before your trip. The beach is also a surfing destination: Playa de Rodiles is particularly well suited to the sport thanks to its famous left-hand wave.
Two hiking trails, different routes
At 11 kilometres, the Ruta de Carlos V (PR-AS 302) is shorter than the 15.57-kilometre Ruta de los Molinos del rĂo Profundo. The former runs from Tazones to the Palacio de los Hevia in Villaviciosa and is signposted; along the way, it connects marshland, waterfalls, pre-Romanesque churches and villages. The Ruta de los Molinos, by contrast, is a circular hike of moderate difficulty. Old watermills and wooden mythological figures line its route, which leads to the MolĂn de La Peña waterfall and the village of Buslaz. The length, route type and named destinations give you concrete points of difference when choosing between the two trails.
Tazones can be reached via the A-8 and the N-632, AS-256 and VV-5 roads.
Churches and historic traces
The Church of San Salvador in ValdediĂłs is a pre-Romanesque Asturian building, consecrated in 893. According to documentary accounts, the Church of San Juan de Amandi dates back to pre-Romanesque times. Stylistically, it belongs to the Baroque phase of Asturian Romanesque and features Gothic elements. The two churches therefore offer different points of historical interest: a specifically dated consecration, and a combination of an attributed period of origin and several stylistic features.
In Tazones, the San Miguel and San Roque neighbourhoods are designated as a historic-artistic ensemble. The history of the Casa de los Hevia is also linked to Tazones: Prince Charles of Ghent landed at the port of Tazones and then stayed at the Casa de los Hevia in Villaviciosa from 19 to 23 September 1517. These specific dates make the historical stay tangible in time.
Dinosaur footprints and harbour
The Yacimientos de Icnitas natural monument comprises sites with dinosaur footprints along several stretches of coast between Villaviciosa, Colunga and Ribadesella. The Asturian dinosaur footprint sites are among the most significant Jurassic fossil sites in Spain.
The port of Tazones has another distinctive local feature: catches brought in there are auctioned at the fish market. So, alongside coastal scenery and historic places, the landing and auctioning of catches are also part of harbour life.
Plan your stay around your interests
When looking for a hotel in Villaviciosa, you can start by deciding what you want to focus on during your trip: the coast and surfing, one of the hikes with its own distinctive route, or architecture and history. This way, your search starts with the experiences you genuinely want to include in your trip.
Discover more destinations: Cabranes, Collado, Villaviciosa, Amandi, Miravalles, Bedriñana, Cazanes, Puelles, Torretejera, Liñero, Cazamular, Argüero, San Miguel, Selorio.
For the overview of the wider region: Asturias.
