Gijon Mini Guide
Gijon,
Spain is a Seaport and industrial town on the Bay of Biscay, Gijon lies amidst the greenest fields in Spain and remains a vision of pastoral beauty despite its transformation from a small fishing village into a busy city. Situated on the Atlantic coast in Asturias, Gijon has retained its charming cobbled streets while the maritime climate and mild temperatures make it a pleasant place to visit or live.
The area around Gijon is known as the Costa Verde for its rolling green fields and there are also magnificent beaches, many of which have been given the Blue Flag award. Gijon was initially a Roman settlement but in the 16th century, Roman Catholics built a port there.
Present day Gijon has two beaches on the peninsula and a population of just over a quarter of a million people.
Gijon could certainly be described as cosmopolitan and there are many bars and restaurants serving local and international cuisine. In Gijon there is also the fifth largest port in Spain - El Musel – which gets a lot of traffic and its technologically advanced equipment means that it is one of the most popular docking places for a number of industries including coal and iron.
While a lot of work goes on there, the marina is also a good place to play, as it offers many water sports and has a fleet of yachts and the Royal Astur yacht club.
The city is very active with a number of sporting opportunities on offer in its gyms, pools and public sports centres. There are also a number of nearby ski resorts which are accessible by car.
Gijon is rich in culture as well and there are numerous art galleries, museums and libraries which are open to the public.
Tourist information offices are plentiful and they offer guides in different languages including English, French and German. They can recommend places to visit such as the historic quarter of Cimadevilla, a great place to walk and see what remains of the old fishing village upon which the city was founded.
Getting to Gijon is not difficult. There is a nearby airport in
Castellon where car hire is available. The best ways routes to Gijon by car are along the A-8 Autopista del Cantábrico, the A-66 motorway, known as the Ruta de la Plata and the AS-1 Autovía Minera. Once you are in the city there is a well developed bus system and a metro is being constructed for the town too.