Doñanatour includes the Riotinto trail so you can discover the fascinating transformation of a nearby region connected with mining. You’ll see the Peña de Hierro mine, the mining galleries, the source of the Río Tinto river and you’ll take a narrow gauge train trip inside the mine, all wrapped up with a visit to the museum.
VISIT
The Río Tinto river which, as its name indicates, is completely red in this region.
GET TO KNOW
The impressive open-cast workings.
Aimed at:
GROUPS OF MORE
THAN 10 PEOPLE
Description of the service:
The Rio Tinto Mining Park allows you to discover the history of a region transformed by mining. It comprises of:
· Mining Museum and Visitor’s Reception Centre.
· Narrow gauge mining railway.
· Peña de hierro and Casa 21.
5,000 years of mining exploitation in the zone has created a unique landscape that has been likened to Mars, to the extent that NASA has carried out investigations here. The scenery is not only formed by gigantic man-made craters, but also by the surrounding natural settings. The colour red dominates and it is sparsely vegetated.
MINING MUSEUM AND VISITOR’S RECEPTION CENTRE
The museum is a centre for interpretation that has a permanent exhibition displaying the environmental and geological characteristics of the zone and a journey through its 5000 year history that has been linked to mining throughout. Outstanding is the Maharaja’s carriage, constructed for Queen Victoria and bought to Rio Tinto for a visit by King Alfonso XIII.
NARROW GAUGE MINING RAILWAY
With the oldest locomotive in circulation in Spain. During the hour and a half journey the train follows the Rio Tinto river and takes you through stunning altered landscapes and impressive natural scenery.
PEÑA DE HIERRO
The Peña de Hierro is an open-cast mine between 330m and 190m across with a depth of 85m and a subterranean mine which is 155m deep with 12 levels.
CASA 21
House number 21 (dating from 1895) was inaugurated on the 28th of July 2005. The visit takes you travelling in time to the Victorian era, with an ambience that recalls Out of Africa, or A Passage to India.
Human Resources
Widely experienced guides.
Materials
Bibliography. Picnic (if applicable). Support vehicle.