Travel Guide Gijón

Dynamic, young, maritime, the2nd Asturian city has overtaken Oviedo as the most important city in Asturias, thanks to its population of almost 275,000 inhabitants and its strong character. The former small fishing port, today the most active city in Asturias and capital of the Costa Verde, was however almost completely destroyed at the end of the 14th century during the wars involving the Trastamara dynasty. From the sixteenth century, the city underwent an important transformation with the construction of the basin and shipyards. Finally, in the last century, the development of the iron and steel industry and the coalfields made its port, El Musel, the second industrial port in Spain after Bilbao. Of course, the growing urbanization at the back of the city is not the best effect, but the crusade that borders the long beach of San Lorenzo, the multiple museums and, above all, the very old fishermen's district clinging to the peninsula of Cimadevilla, make Gijón a surprising and cheerful maritime city, where it is good to spend a few days. Gijón is at the forefront of culture and technology. In recent years, the city has been working on a project to reuse the old Laboral University of Gijón. Today, it is a center dedicated to culture, with concerts, a 1,500-seat theater and the Laboral Tower, which offers one of the best views of the city.As an active and touristic city, Gijón has a large and varied accommodation offer. If you have a big budget, you can also opt for one of the beautiful casonas located in the surrounding villages, bourgeois residences often surrounded by beautiful gardens.For walkers, Gijón is also part of the Camino del norte. The tourist office will inform you about the five walking tours that have been developed. During 1 to 4 hours, you will discover the coastal paths, the beaches, the cliffs, but also old mills, mining wells or industrial wastelands.