Gijon tourist information
Gijón is a modern, hospitable and open city. It is surrounded by many green areas, sports installations and boasts a restored and protected historic-artistic heritage. Gijón is the home of fairs, conventions, congresses, great concerts as well as cultural and sporting events.
Washed by the Cantabrian Sea, it is located to the east of Torres Cape and to the west of Cervigón Point, along the resulting coastal inlet, which divided by the Santa Catalina outcrop, forms the Bay of Gijón or San Lorenzo Bay. The origins of Gijón are linked to the establishment, in the nearby Campa Torres, of a settlement that became known as Noega and was inhabited by the "Cilúrnigos". This settlement could have been as early as the 5th century B.C. After the Roman conquest, the village spread along the coast, creating a new town nearby, known as Gigia, on the Santa Catalina outcrop, the base of present day Gijón, towards the 1st century A.D. This settlement was protected by a wall (3rd century) and a jetty was built nearby. Medieval Gijón was founded on the Santa Catalina outcrop. The development of Gijón, after its resettlement which began in 1400, commenced with the Reyes Católicos (the Catholic Monarchs) who, in 1480 authorised the construction of a port, a project that took several centuries. Towards the end of the 18th century, Gijón became the maritime capital of Asturias and began its evolution as an industrial and commercial city until it became the largest city in the Principality. The opening of the road to Castile, the improvement of the docks and the establishment of a customs office for international maritime traffic were the main features that stimulated the growth of the city. During the 19th century, together with political changes, Asturias suffered a far-reaching economic and social transformation which began with an incipient industry based on the exploitation of coal mines and the production of iron and steel.
One of the most outstanding aspects in the development of Gijón was the establishment in Veriña of Uninsa (later known as ENSIDESA and currently as Aceralia). Its construction and operation caused a massive migration of people from other parts of the region towards Gijón, as well as the construction of a new industrial area along the Aboño river, the growth of the port and the establishment of many small and medium size companies.
Gijón, historical, commercial and industrial, is the largest city in Asturias, where the sea, the gentle mountains and the town combine to make it one of the most attractive cities in the north of Spain. Its long beach, San Lorenzo, the promenade, the marina, the Black Week (Film Festival), it social life and festive atmosphere invite visitors to come to this cheerful, busy city where life is lived in the streets during the summer. But its tourist attractions are not limited to this; Gijón is a milestone on the Camino de Santiago (Route to Santiago) and has a number of museums and an extensive cultural offer (International Film Festival, Latin American Book Festival). Some of its museums are extremely original; the Railway Museum, International Bagpipe Museum, and others exhibit its distinguished past: the Birthplace of Jovellanos, Nicanor Piñole Museum, Revillagigedo Palace...
The Universidad Laboral, a project from the 40s stands out due to its size (its tower reaches a height of 120 metres), is the venue of multiple cultural activities. The neighbourhood of Cimadevilla, where old baroque buildings combine with modern constructions provide the area with an intimate personality, a mixture of the past and the present. And, of course, the gastronomic offer, the shops and the character of its people complete the image of this city.
