THE ROMAN GOLD ROUTE

A WORLD OF DAY-DREAM AND WILDERNESS

THE WESTERN ASTURIAS AND THE CELTIC WORLD

It is by travelling through Luarca, Villayon and Navia villages that one best realises the great influence the Celtic settlements, as construction, have had up to present time. Stone walls used to divide fields or roads, often also employed as main walls for barns and homes, are a perfect reminder of the "castros", which very well preserved have stayed up to present time.

These "castros" were later used by Roman invaders and destroyed when no longer useful.

GOLD IN THE CELTIC WORLD

Gold panning has always been a very popular activity in Asturias since the old times. The Celts used such valuable mineral to create bracelets or necklaces intended for the leaders or priestess of the tribe in the different settlements. The Celts became very skilled in the use of gold; they often created real masterpieces decorated mainly with their mythological symbols. A wide range of these "jewels" can nowadays be seen in archaeological museums.

There is a great number of Celtic settlements in Navelgas area, as can be noticed in the use of the word "castro", "castietso" or "castrillo" to refer to mounds or highlands. The majority of these hill-forts have been located but not dug or studied yet: Riocastiello, Troncedo, Munalen, Zardain, Foyedo, etc. Behind Coana hill-fort is San Chuis hill-fort, Allande, now in perfect condition, but its recovery is yet to be concluded.