The port city of Gijon, located on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea, is an attractive combination of seafaring flavor, monumental heritage and modern urban city planning that can be witnessed right on the seashore. This unusual city was traditionally a fishing village, but today it is a departure point for regional cruises, thus making it busy in summer.
Most of its cobble-stoned streets are barely two cars wide and the renovated colorful buildings display the life of the village. This region is popular for its greenest hills in Spain.
A Little Bit of History
In the early settlements of Gijon people lived in village forts, which contained small stone huts. The Romans made this port town their fortified settlement.
Gijon Port
The twelfth and thirteenth century Romanesque churches stand proof for its continuous occupation during the Middle Ages.
The urbanization of this territory came to a standstill in the fourteenth century when the port became the stage for the Trastamara conflicts, in which the town was destroyed completely.
However, the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were a period of development for Gijon, when plans were laid out for the city development and the industrialization had began.
The progressive modernization and its excellent natural conditions have made the city into a popular tourist destination.
The View of Gijon
The Semana Negra Festival, Gijon International Film Festival, Antroxu, Holy Week, San Juan, San Pedro, Folk Festival, Cider Festival and Salon del Libro Iberoamericano are some of the popular events in this port city.
In the ecological and crafts market you can buy traditional and local crafts. Gijon is the largest shopping center in Asturias and you can buy all kinds of quality products from its stores.
Where is Gijon?
- 19.3 miles/ 31.1 km from Oviedo, Spain
- 108.1 miles/ 174 km from Santander, Spain
- 165.9 miles/ 267 km from Bilbao, Spain
- 170.2 miles/ 274 km from Valladolid, Spain
- 288.9 miles/ 465 km from Madrid, Spain
- 108.7 miles/ 175 km from Santander Airport, Spain
- 171.4 miles/ 276 km from Bilbao Airport, Spain
Things to See
- Revillagigedo Palace
- Collegiate Church
- City Museum
- La Campa Torres
- Railway Museum
- Campo Valdes Roman Baths
- San Pedro Apostol Church
- Botanical Garden
- Cimadevilla
Beaches
Coast of Gijon
- Poniente Beach
- San Lorenzo Beach
- Arbeyal
- Penarrubia Beach
- Other popular beaches include Estano, Cervigon and Cagonera Y Serin
Excursions
- Aviles
- Oviedo
- Cangas De Onis
Gijon takes you far away from the maddening crowd of southern Spain and it has much to offer its visitors from great cuisine to guided tours and competitions.
Visiting the city is a great way to begin your adventure into the rural countryside of Spain.
We wish you a fantastic Mediterranean cruise!
