Visit Gijon
Gijon is the largest city in Asturias in the region of Asturias and Cantabria. It is about 20km from the Asturia's capital, Oviedo.
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.
Explore Gijon
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 has nine beaches and a very well equipped marina. The San Lorenzo beach is a long sandy beach and is the main one of Gijon's beaches.
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.
In the Arcaded Plaza Mayor is the city hall, a 19th century building. Nearby the Plaza Jovellanos is home to the Museum of Gijon, the 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.
In Plaza del Marquez, overlooking the pleasant marina is the Revillagigedo Palace - 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. Next to this is the church of San Juan Bautista.
The Torre del Reloj is nearby and contains a display about the history of Gijon. The tower is a modern tower built on 16th century ruins and offers good views over Gijon and the sea.
The harbour is an excellent place to head for in the evening when many of the town's inhabitants go out for their evening's promenade - called a paseo in Spanish.
Also to see in Gijon is 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 which cover 25 hectares and contain more than 3000 different varieties of plants.
In an idyllic spot at the 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 and is an excellent place to stay in Gijon
Places to visit nearby
Aviles with its medieval walls and 15th century palaces is to the west of Gijon,
Ovieda, the capital of Asturias is one of the most attractive cities in northern Spain and has an interesting historic old centre.
You can find more local travel ideas in the Asturias and Cantabria guide.
Map of Gijon and places to visit
Gijon places to visit
Aviles
Aviles has an interesting medieval centre. Many of its buildings are painted in lovely pastel colours.
Aviles guide
Oviedo
Oviedo is the cultural capital of Asturias and has a medieval centre and lots of examples of Pre-Romanesque architecture.
Oviedo guide
Cudillero
Cudillero has lots of colourful houses surround its port. It is one of Spain's most beautiful villages.
Cudillero guide
Cangas de Onis
Cangas de Onis has a lovely Roman bridge and fantastic mountain scenery. It is close to Covadonga said to be the starting place for the Reconquest.
Cangas de Onis guide
Ribadesella
Ribadesella is a charming seaside resort with an old town, a sandy beach and Modernista villas.
Ribadesella guide
Covadonga
Covadonga village and sanctuary are set in beautiful mountain scenery. The Battle of Covadonga is considered to be the start of the Reconquest of Spain.
Covadonga guide...or see all our recommended places to visit in Asturias and Cantabria