Family visiting the salt mountain. Cardona Barcelona

Mining tourism in Spain: a trip to the heart of the earth

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Beyond the surface, Spain hides a geological heritage that allows us to discover the territory from another perspective. Old mines, landscapes transformed by mining activity and museum spaces now offer experiences that combine history, science and nature.Mining tourism offers the chance to delve into these scenarios sculpted over centuries: walk through underground tunnels, feel the silence of the rock or explore surroundings of surprising colours. Here are five suggestions for exploring this legacy from the inside.

  • Rio Tinto Mines

    5Otherworldly places: Riotinto Mining Park

    In the province of Huelva, in Andalusia, a landscape that could be from another planet awaits you. The river Tinto and the mineral composition of its waters have stained its riverbed for thousands of years with intense red, orange and ochre tones, creating an environment that is unique in the world.To walk through this place is to step into more than 5,000 years of mining history. Every bend in the river and every mound tells how the land and the people who inhabited it have evolved together over time.What the tour entails. You will start at the Mining Museum, an essential place to understand the geological origins and history of this enclave. You will then enter Casa 21, an elegant 19th century Victorian residence, a testament to the British presence in Riotinto. The tour ends at the imposing Corta Atalaya, one of the largest open-cast mines in Europe, whose dimensions are awe-inspiring.Related activities. To complete the experience, you can take a ride on the old railway, which runs parallel to the river and offers unique views of the landscape. In addition, the park organises interpretative routes that explain why this area is one of the most studied in the world due to its similarity to the geology of Mars.

  • Interior of the Almadén Mining Park mine. Ciudad Real.

    5The strange mercury footprint: Almadén Mining Park.

    The province of Ciudad Real is home to one of the most important mercury sites in the world, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the visit you will walk through the amazing galleries that have been excavated by hand since the 16th century.What the tour entails. The experience begins with a descent in an authentic mining cage to a depth of 50 metres. Inside, the silence and the reddish cinnabar veins - from which the mercury was obtained - create a unique atmosphere. The return to the surface is made on a small wagon train, before continuing the outdoor tour alongside the old, now disused, smelting furnaces.Related activities. You can visit the old Royal Miners' Hospital of San Rafael, founded in the 18th century to treat and study mining-related illnesses. It currently houses the Almadén Mines Historical Archive and an educational museum dedicated to this activity.

  • Sotón well workers Santa Martin del Rey Aurelio

    5Be a miner for a day: Pozo Sotón

    This coal site, located in one of the green valleys of Asturias, offers a real immersion in the harshness of mining work. Entering its galleries is also a tribute to the generations who dedicated their lives to working underground.What the tour entails. The itinerary includes a descent into the mine equipped as a worker and a route through the installations that gives an insight into the working conditions of the miners. The experience continues in the interactive museum, the former Toilet House, which will help you understand what daily life was like.Related activities. If you want a challenge, try the game "Mine Escape", a fun group test of logic and cooperation. Also highly recommended are the dramatised tours, perfect to take you back to the atmosphere of the 1960s in this mine. 

  • Escucha Mining Museum. Teruel

    5A dizzying descent: Escucha Mining Museum:

    The province of Teruel, in Aragon, preserves an industrial heritage linked to lignite, a type of coal. In the small village of Escucha, the old mine has been transformed into a museum that allows you to discover this profession.What the tour entails. The adventure begins as you climb into the original carriages, which descend through a dizzying 200-metre-long gallery. Once underground, a very realistic recreation with visual and sound effects allows you to understand how the mine worked.Related activities. To find out more about the life of the miners, visit the Casa Museo de la Familia Minera de Escucha (Escucha Mining Museum). It is set in the dwellings, the bar and the commissary of the village during the 1950s and 1960s, narrated by virtual characters.

  • Interior of Salt Mountain. Cardona Barcelona

    5Like a deep volcano: Salt Mountain of Cardona

    A surprising geological phenomenon awaits you very close to Barcelona: what at first glance looks like a hill covered with vegetation is actually the summit of an immense salt dome in the shape of a volcano almost two kilometres deep.What the tour entails. The route starts with a descent of 86 metres into ancient galleries with spectacular salt formations: white, orange and pink stalactites and stalagmites create a unique place.Related activities. The dramatised routes are a fun way to discover the history of this place, especially if you are travelling with your family. To complete the experience, climb up to Cardona Castle, a medieval fortress that has now been converted into a Parador. From there you will enjoy a privileged view of the Cardener valley and the Montaña de Sal itself.

These are just some of the experiences that will introduce you to the exciting world of mining tourism in Spain. Two other options are: the Roman open-pit mine of Las Médulas and the Mina Rica in Almería, which houses the Pulpí Geode, formed by enormous gypsum crystals.If you want to explore more unique places and plan your trip, you will find many more suggestions at Spain.info.

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