Market Days in Colunga - Thursday Traditional Market on the Dinosaur Coast
Colunga: Where Prehistoric Giants Meet Village Traditions
Colunga occupies one of the most extraordinary locations in Asturias - the heart of the "Costa de los Dinosaurios" (Dinosaur Coast), where the coastal strip from Tazones to Ribadesella reveals a showcase of low cliffs where dinosaurs left their heavy mark 150 million years ago. This small municipality has become a crucial destination for paleontology enthusiasts worldwide, yet beneath the prehistoric glamour beats the heart of a traditional Asturian farming community.
The landscape around Colunga tells an incredible story spanning millions of years. During the Late Jurassic Period, this area was a coastal environment where giant sauropods and three-toed theropods walked through tidal mud flats. Today, those ancient footprints are exposed along the coastline, while modern farmers continue agricultural traditions that stretch back centuries, growing the same types of crops that sustained communities here long before anyone imagined giant reptiles once roamed these hills.
Archaeological and Natural Heritage:
Colunga is part of the Comarca de la Sidra (Cider Region), alongside Villaviciosa, Nava, Bimenes, Cabranes, and Sariego. The area produces some of Asturias' finest apples and traditional cider, while simultaneously protecting Europe's most important collection of dinosaur fossils. The Jurassic Museum of Asturias (MUJA), built in the shape of a giant three-toed dinosaur footprint, houses over 8,000 specimens found exclusively along this coast.
Lastres Connection: Colunga is home to Lastres, winner of the "Exemplary Town of Asturias Award" in 2010 - an award delivered personally by the King and Queen of Spain. This picturesque fishing village, considered one of Spain's prettiest, sits dramatically on cliffs overlooking the Cantabrian Sea, creating one of the most photogenic backdrops for any market visit.
Thursday Market in the Heart of Dinosaur Country
📍 Essential Details:
When: Every Thursday morning, typically 9:00-14:00
Where: Central Colunga town square
Distance: 30 minutes from Arcenoyu | 30 minutes from Casona Azul Llue
Parking: Limited street parking - arrive early, especially during MUJA museum visiting hours
What makes it special: Traditional farming community that happens to live atop one of Europe's most important paleontological sites
Unlike the tourist-focused attractions of the Dinosaur Coast, Colunga's Thursday market remains authentically local. This is where farming families who've worked this land for generations bring their weekly harvest, often passing the same cliff exposures where scientists regularly discover new dinosaur tracks.
The Landscape of Agriculture: Surrounded by lush green landscapes, stunning cliffs, and the majestic Cantabrian Sea, Colunga offers a tranquil setting where you can shop for fresh vegetables while knowing that beneath your feet lie the preserved footprints of creatures that lived here 150 million years ago. The rolling hills that surround the market square are part of the same geological formations that preserve these incredible fossils.
What to Expect: Local Produce with Jurassic Views
Traditional Asturian Fare
The gastronomy in Colunga is based around traditional Asturian fare: hearty stews, Asturian-reared beef, and fresh fish from both sea and rivers. The market reflects this agricultural heritage with seasonal offerings that have sustained this community through centuries.
Market Specialties:
Quality shellfish from the coastal waters - often cooked with rice or prepared in traditional Asturian styles
Seasonal vegetables grown in soil enriched by millions of years of geological processes
Local beef and dairy from cattle that graze on the same hills where dinosaurs once roamed
Cider and cider products - this is still officially part of the Cider Region
Seasonal Rhythms
Spring: Early vegetables, wild asparagus, tender greens
Summer: Tomatoes, peppers, summer squash benefiting from coastal climate
Autumn: Apples, chestnuts, winter preparations
Winter: Root vegetables, preserved foods, coastal seafood specialties
The Fishing Village Connection
Being close to Lastres means access to incredibly fresh seafood. Thursday market often features catches brought in by local fishing boats, continuing traditions that predate even the Roman settlements that once used nearby Tazones as a landing place.
Combining Markets with Dinosaur Coast Exploration
Perfect Day Integration
Morning (9:00-11:00): Thursday market shopping in authentic village atmosphere
Late Morning: Drive 3km to La Griega Beach to see the largest sauropod footprints in the world
Midday: Visit MUJA (Jurassic Museum) - only 1km from La Griega Beach
Afternoon: Explore Lastres village and enjoy lunch with spectacular coastal views
Dinosaur Coast Context
What makes Colunga's market extraordinary is its location at the epicenter of one of the world's most important paleontological sites. The foundational collection of MUJA is composed of some 8,000 specimens of fossils exclusively from the Asturian Jurassic, including dinosaur footprints (some 150 tracks taken from the coast of the region).
The market vendors are often the same families whose land occasionally reveals new dinosaur discoveries. It's not unusual for local farmers to mention finding "strange rocks" that turn out to be significant paleontological specimens.
Camino de Santiago Connection
Colunga is part of the Northern Route of the Camino de Santiago, known as the "Camino de la Costa" along the Asturian coastline. Thursday market shopping can be perfectly integrated into this pilgrimage route, offering modern pilgrims the same kind of local provisioning that has sustained travelers for centuries.
Shopping Tips for the Dinosaur Coast
Bring a camera: The combination of traditional market atmosphere with dramatic coastal backdrop creates incredible photo opportunities
Ask about local geology: Many vendors have stories about fossil discoveries on their land
Time for MUJA: The museum is extremely popular - combine market shopping with early museum arrival
Lastres lunch planning: This is one of Asturias' most photographed villages - book restaurant reservations ahead
Archaeological Awareness
Walking through Colunga's market, you're literally shopping above one of Europe's richest dinosaur fossil sites. The coastal strip from Tazones (Villaviciosa) to Camangu (Ribadesella) is a showcase of low cliffs where dinosaurs left their heavy mark. The same geological processes that preserved those ancient footprints have created the fertile soils that produce today's market vegetables.
Weather and Timing
The coastal location means weather can change quickly. The dramatic cliffs and sea views that make this area spectacular also create microclimates. Thursday morning markets benefit from typically calmer morning conditions, while afternoon exploration of the fossil sites works best at low tide.
This is cultural immersion into traditional Asturian village life with the added wonder of standing where giants once walked - a truly unique market experience that combines authentic local shopping with one of the world's most significant paleontological landscapes.
Related Reading
Explore More Colunga & Dinosaur Coast:
Complete Asturias Market Days Guide - Weekly schedules across the region
Family-Friendly Dinosaur Adventures - Making the most of MUJA and fossil sites with children
Lastres Village Guide: Fishing Culture and Coastal Beauty - Exploring Spain's most photogenic village
Natural History & Culture:
Walking the Jurassic Coast: Fossil Hunting for Beginners - Safe and legal fossil exploration
Traditional Asturian Fishing Villages - Coastal culture and maritime heritage
Quick Reference:
Distance from properties: 30 minutes via A-8 or scenic coastal route
Best time: Thursday 9:00-11:00 AM
Parking: Limited street parking - arrive early
Special features: Dinosaur Coast location, Lastres proximity, MUJA museum access
Combine with: Fossil site visits, MUJA museum, Lastres village exploration, coastal photography
