gijOn

View of Gijon

Gijon is one of the most important cities in Asturias, Once a roman settlement; this is evident from many buildings throughout the town, especially the mansions and houses between the marina and San Lorenzo, with almost 2000 years of history. Originally Gijon was formed between the hill of Santa Catalina and the fishing neighbourhood of Cimadevilla.

Gijon offers some very unusual characteristics. It is an active industrial centre, a highly traditional port, a monumental centre and a summer resort area. "El Musel" harbour located in Cimadevilla is one of the busiest in Spain today. Cerro de Santa Catalina. It is a park on the tip of the peninsula that provides a view of the outstretched coastline forming the port. On the very edge of the peninsula is a sculpture the size of a house, Eligio del Horizonte, or Praise of the Horizon.

The beaches near Gijon are beautiful, with golden sands and promenades. Some of the best attractions however are historical, the roman baths being one of the most popular. Medeival palaces within the Gijon are also very popular, the baroque Revillagigedo Palace dates back to the 18th century, and the palace is now used to show works of modern art, with successful exhibitions every year.

Gijon is well known for its exhibitions and concerts. During the summer, you can enjoy the mixture of culture and party at the "Semana Negra" (Black Week), where you can choose between attractions and good food or chats and meetings with the best comics and novelists.

They also have another week to celebrate their "holy boss", Santa Begoña, on August 15th. It's a week with lots of concerts and the "Night of Fire", with 30 minutes of fireworks at midnight on August 14th. You can also find interesting things to do in winter, too. In November, the Gijon International Film Festival turns the city in the alternative cinema meeting point

Discover Asturias

The following links will take you to the different cities in Asturias:

avilEs | gijOn | oviedo