Gijón, cosmopolitan and hospitable city of incredible nature, with impressive buildings such as “La Laboral city of Culture”, the Aquarium, the Botanical Garden and the Thalassoponiente. Other interesting options to visit in the city are Cimadevilla, the old fishing district and the gardens of the Queen. Attractive by its famous carnival "Antroxu", and the festivities of San Juan and San Pedro, among others. It is worth trying their "Lamb with the stake", one of their most delicious dishes.
Gijón is on the north of Asturias and its coast is bathed by the waters of the Cantabrian Sea. It has a population of 273.422 inhabitants. Its climate is warm and temperate and its annual average temperature is 14ºC.
Gijón has a glorious Roman past, the existence of which is proved by the excavations at the Archeological Park of Campa de Torres or at the Thermal Camp of Campo Valdés, which dates from the first century b.C. It also has churches which were built in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The map of the city was made in the thirteenth century by the illustrious Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, after which Gijón will start developing itself until it comes to be the most important industrial center of Asturias in the nineteenth century, due to its big Musel Port, and its industry.
Besides its historic past and gradual modernization, nature in Gijón is absolutely beautiful. The city also has a lot to offer to its visitors regarding culture and sports. That is why it is considered to be one of the most cosmopolitan, festive and hospitable cities of Asturias.
The Labor City of Culture (“La Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura”), one of the most emblematic buildings of the Iberian Peninsula, hosts a series of social, business and cultural services. Inside its square there is the biggest theater of Asturias. Besides, the Aquarium, the Botanic Garden and the Talasoponiente (a huge aquatic entertaining center) should be taken into consideration when entertaining and cultural activities are planned. Other alternatives of tourist offers in the city of Gijón are visits to Cimadevilla, an old fishermen´s neighborhood, to the sports port, the Poniente beach and the Garden of the Queen.
El Antroxu, the regional carnival of Gijón, the festivities of Saint John and Saint Peter, as well as the so-called “Big Week” (“Semana Grande”) or the Festivities of Begoña and the Natural Cider are some of the most important events many visitors go to. From its varied cuisine one can taste Chopa made with cider, or stew made with rockfish or seafood and lamb roasted on the spit. Another tempting culinary offer of Gijón is the dessert called “chaponas”, made primarily of chocolate.
The painter Nicanor Piñole, born in Gijón, after he was trained at the Superior School of Fine Arts of San Fernando and at Ángel Ferrant´s workshop, he established himself in his native land.
