Gijon

Gijon is the largest city in the Asturias region of Spain.

Gijon is an industrial port but it has a very pleasant old town called Cimadevilla on a headland. It was originally the fishing village. Overlooking the seafront is the Revillagigedo Palace and some of Gijon's most impressive buildings.

A promenade along the sea front of Cimadevilla will take you past many old fishing houses along narrow cobbled roads. Continue to the end of the headland and you get to the Parque La Atalaya, a park with views over the port and coastline. Here you can see an enormous sculpture - Eduardo Chillida's 'Eulogy to the Horizon'. This is one of many large-scale sculptures scattered around the town. Gijon's tourist office can provide you with a walking map with a route marked out to make sure you see all the major sites.

Gijon has nine beaches and a very well equipped marina.

Gijon - Revillagigedo Palace

Gijon Attractions

The Revillagigedo Palace is the most impressive building in Gijon. It is an 18th century fortified palace built in a mix of neo-Baroque and neo-Renaissance styles. Inside is an art gallery exhibiting 20th century Art.

The Arcaded Plaza Mayor with the city hall.

The church of San Juan Bautista on the opposite side of the headland to the marina.

The San Lorenzo beach is a long sandy beach and the main one of Gijons 9 beaches.

At the other end of the San Lorenzo beach at the River Piles estuary is the Parador of Gijon. The Parador is in a converted 100 year old mill in the Isabel la Catolica Park.

Museum of Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos. Gaspar was an eminent 18th century author and his home is now a museum with exhibits from Asturias over the last few centuries. The building is one of the oldest manor houses in the city and has been carefully restored.

Gijon Area

Gijon's university, the Universidad Laboral, is a splendid building. It was built in the 1950s but has an almost Renaissance feel to it. It is also opposite the Atlantic botanical gardens.

Atlantic Botanic Gardens with 25 hectares and more than 3000 different varieties of plants