Gijón

It’s a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias. Gijón is the most thickly populated city and finds its origins in the Roman settlement of Gigia. From those times remain the thermal baths and the surrounding wall. It is close to the other main Asturian cities, Oviedo and Avilés.
The climate is Atlantic with mild temperatures and high humidity throughout the year. The summers are very warm and winters are cold with significant rains, especially in December and March.
For much of the twentieth century the town was heavily dependent on mature heavy industries but in the 80’s tertiary sector employment began to expand quickly along with the city’s population which by 2007 stood officially at 277.897 for Gijon proper, and approximately 380.000 for the total Gijón agglomeration.

The port is at the centre of many of the local businesses. Apart from this, the economy is based on tourism, steel (Arcelor), other metallurgy, livestock rearing and fisheries.

Overlooking the city from the hill Cerro de Santa Catalina is Chillida’s sculpture Elogio del Horizonte, symbol of the city.

Going downwards the quarter of Cimadevilla, with its narrow streets and small squares invites to drink a Sidra (the typical Asturias drink).
Near here you can find Jovellanos Square where the Museum-Home of the Asturian erudite stands.

Gijón is nowadays a modern and lively city, especially in summer when it becomes the most important receptor of tourists in the region.
Come and know us!

Miriam Seivane