Church of Santo Adriano de Tuñón

The Church of Santo Adriano de Tuñón is a pre-Romanesque church built in the 9th century near the River Trubia, featuring a basilica layout with a bell gable. The structure has a single nave with extensions added during later centuries that expanded the original design.

The structure was founded in 891 as a monastery by King Alfonso III of Asturias and his wife with support from bishops of Coimbra and León. It served as an important religious center within the broader network of medieval monasteries in the region.

The interior walls display rediscovered Mozarabic murals that represent a rare collection of paintings from a local medieval art workshop. These murals show how artists of that period decorated religious spaces with geometric patterns and religious scenes.

Access to the interior requires advance reservations for guided tours to see the spaces inside. Visitors should prepare for uneven terrain near the riverbank and wear comfortable shoes for walking around the grounds.

The building combines original elements from the 9th century with additions from the 17th and 18th centuries, showing how it adapted over time. These layers of change remain visible in the architecture and tell the story of its continuous religious use.

Location: Santo Adriano

Inception: 9 century

Architectural style: Asturian architecture

GPS coordinates: 43.29186,-5.98151

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:26