El Centro del Medio Marino, the Visitor's Centre by the lighthouse, and the surrounding walkways allow persons with reduced mobility to enjoy breathtaking views over the cliffs.

Asturias is located in the north of Spain : Gozón is the most northern area there and stretches over 42Km on the coast and its capital is Luanco. Its location is privileged as it's quite near the most important cities: Avilés, 13 km (AS-238), Gijón, 18 km (AS-239) and the capital of this autonomous community, Oviedo , is only 40 km far by the Freeway known as "Y".

The area is triangle-shaped and the farthest point into the sea is the famous cape Cabo Peñas , the most important cape in the region which divides the coast of Asturias into two. However, you will never find it on your way unless you are looking for it in particular.The scenery over there is quite impressive formed by steep cliffs that stand some one hundred metres high, small islands and inlets, and a great number of beaches and sandbanks. All these features have made a wide area be classified as Protected Landscape.

On your way from Luanco to the Cape you'll drive by the rural villages scattered all over the country; it will give you the chance to come across a great number of examples of popular architecture in Asturias like hórreos (typical buildings on pillars formerly used to keep harvests). Once there, in front of the Centro del Medio Marino (Visitor's Centre building) there's a picnic area (ground is the natural surface and quite uneven) next to the parking area (disabled parking spaces not available at the moment) from where visitors approach the centre via a ramped access that leads to the main entrance along a raised timber walkway with handrails . Tickets are sold at the reception area in the Visitors Centre and tourist information about the area is available too. There's a little shop and a toilet on the right hand side ( not adapted but can accommodate a wheelchair and there's turning space). All exhibition rooms are on the ground floor and on one level : the aisle from Room 3 to Room 4 narrows at some points (as the walls resemble rock) but it's still wheelchair accessible (depending on size of wheelchair). Information on the Cape , this particular Lighthouse and other lighthouses over the world, storms, sea surges (and "galerna", as is named the violent north-west wind on this northern part of Spain ), shipwrecks and the environmental resources is provided through panels, photographs and films.

Timber boardwalks have been designed to create a raised accessible walkway through the delicate areas of vegetation and uneven ground to spectacular and stunning views from cliff-tops. This walk not only provides access to amazing views of the coastline, it also provides an insight into the area's social and environmental history as a range of panels, at wheelchair height , have been installed along the walkway, displaying information on local Geology, Archaeology, Flora, etc. There's a little bar-restaurant (privately run and owned) at one of the ends of the walkway with an outdoor serviced accessible area ("terraza"), but there are a couple of steps at the entrance of the building (two levels inside). Another car park is just behind this bar, but between the concrete ramp and the accessible timber boardwalk there's some loose gravel (some 2 metres ).

Luanco is a village of medieval origin dating from the first settlements of those whalers coming from Northern Europe. Boat building has been an industrial activity in which the carpenters have proved outstanding. even reducing ships to scale or putting them in glass bottles. The best ship scale models can be seen in the Museo Marítimo de Asturias (Luanco). This Maritime Museum is dedicated to the maritime culture, mainly Asturian and Cantabrian and the exhibition is set into four main groups: Marine biology (displays a great amount of flora and fauna specimen), Seashore carpentry (traditional wooden boats, designs and tools) and Traditional fishing (fishing tackle, anchors, garments, basketwork) and The history of sailing (more than fifty scale models).

The Maritime Museum sets facing the nice bay of the village, in a pedestrian area; nearest car park is the one by the City Hall , but private cars and buses may choose to drop passengers in front of the Museum before parking; there's a ramped access to the main entrance and all the premises are accessible . The three storey building has an elevator and there're three wheelchair adapted toilets , one in each floor. Showcases are set at wheelchair height and visually impaired visitors /groups, provided advance notice is given to the staff, can handle some of the pieces exhibited.

Centro del Medio Marino de Peñas
Faro de Peñas, s/n. 33448 Viodo -Gozón
Tel: 985 882 644
E-mail: turismogozon@yahoo.es
Opening Times: Monday to Sunday: from 10.30-14.00 and from 16.30-20 h.

Museo Marítimo de Asturias
C/ de Gijón, 8. 33440 Luanco
Tel: 985 88 01 01 / E-mail: museomaritimo@ayto-gozon.com
Opening Times:
July & August : Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00-14:00 and 18:00-21.00
September to June : Tuesday to Saturday: 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:00 h. Sundays: 11:00 - 14:00 h.
Closed on Mondays. Free admission on Tuesdays.

Rebecca Arce

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