Gijón is a working town on the Atlantic coast in the Spanish region of Asturias. Sightseeing in Gijon will tell the tourist about the industrial era in northern Spain and the city's close relationship with the ocean. However, in recent years, the city has changed and is ready to surprise every visitor with well-groomed parks and squares, pedestrian streets and interesting cultural attractions.
Gijon landmarks
What to do in Gijon
- Relax on one of the city beaches. Poniente Beach has a large sandy spit, and San Lorenzo is suitable for those who like to swim.
- Go to football. The local team, Sporting Gijon, does not claim the title of champion, but it plays in the first league, which means that the giants of Spanish football often come here. The stadium has a capacity of 30,000 and is always full.
- Start your day with sunrise on the beach.
- Try thalassotherapy treatments in the eastern part of Poniente beach.
- Fill up on sweets at the Punto Caramelo store, which offers a wide range of cakes, pastries, biscuits and other confectionery delights.
- Try your hand at surfing - on the beach of San Lorenzo there is an opportunity to get lessons and show your surfing skills.
- Fly on a paraglider over the cliffs of Gijón.
- Taste local delicacies - at La Gijonesa you can taste a variety of wines and cheeses.
- Enjoy the rain in the heated outdoor pool at the BNFit Thalasso Spa.
- Taste Asturian cider, considered the most important local drink.
RestaurantsGijona: where to eat and drink
Near the Cantabrian Sea, the climate is cooler than anywhere else on mainland Spain, so the local population prefers a protein diet. Popular here are white bean stew, bacon, chorizo, pork shoulder and seafood. Cider is the perfect accompaniment to dinner - in Gijón it is tart and not very carbonated, present on the menu of any restaurant. Cider is also used in some recipes, such as baked hake sauce.
- Casa Zabala. The best seafood and fish establishment. Average check: 50 euros.
- Casa Gerardo. A traditional Asturian restaurant owned by the Moran family. Several generations have passed on their recipes to prepare and refine the finest local dishes. The restaurant has a Michelin star, which is why it is always crowded here. Average check: 55 euros.
- Mercante. Offers a beautiful view of the port and offers a menu of fish, seafood and salads. Average check: 30 euros.
(Photo © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License)
How do we save up to 25% on hotels?
It's very simple - we use a special search engine RoomGuru for 70 services for booking hotels and apartments with the best price.Bonus for renting apartments 2100 rubles
Instead of hotels, you can book an apartment (1.5-2 times cheaper on average) on AirBnB.com, a very convenient worldwide and well-known apartment rental service with a bonus of 2100 rubles upon registrationThe city of Gijón in Spain is located on the Atlantic coast. It is part of the autonomy of Asturias. For a long time, Gijón was the industrial and commercial center of the country, with a well-developed metallurgical industry and large reserves of natural resources. By the end of the last century, tourism began to develop actively in Gijón, which significantly replenishes the city budget.
History of the city of Gijon
On the land where the city is today, the first settlement appeared in the 6th century BC. In the 1st century BC. NS. it was conquered by the Romans. The influence of Roman culture is still clearly visible in the architecture of the city today, especially the mansions between San Lorenzo and the marina.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Gijon was captured by the Visigoths, and then by the Arabs, who established their rule until 722. Legend has it that at this time the head of the tiny kingdom of Pelayo opposed the Arab governor. As a result, Pelayo was forced to flee to the caves of Asturias. It was there that Madonna appeared to him and convinced him of the need to fight and defend the Christian faith.
Whether the Madonna appeared or not, Pelayo's army defeated the Arabs in Covadonga in 722. This event was the beginning of the reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula by Christians. In 1395, a terrible fire practically wiped out Gijón in Spain from the face of the earth. However, it was rebuilt rather quickly.
In 1480, the city began to build a port on the northern coast. In the middle of the 16th century, it was fortified, and at the end of the 18th century, active trade with the West Indies was already conducted through it. Today it is one of the main ports in the country.
Climatic conditions
Anyone who plans to visit this city is probably wondering what the weather is in Gijon. Spain is famous for its mild Atlantic climate. Gijón is no exception: it never gets as hot as in other parts of the Iberian Peninsula. In summer, the air rarely warms up above +28 ° C, and in winter the temperature does not drop below +5 ° C. The only thing that can darken the rest is the rains that happen in these places quite often. The swimming season is rather short - from June to August. The rest of the time, the water in the ocean does not warm up above + 15 ° C.
Beach vacation
Gijón in Spain is not considered the most popular beach resort. But this type of recreation is actively developing, and, probably, in the coming years the city will catch up with its more famous competitors. The best urban beaches are Poniente, Arbeyal and San Lorenzo, which stretches for almost three and a half kilometers along the coast.
However, "San Lorenzo" is more suitable for fans of extreme recreation. There are quite strong currents and large differences in depths. Fans of noisy entertainment should opt for the Poniente beach. The purest sand was brought here from the Sahara Desert. On this beach, the holiday of San Juan is annually celebrated: all night long bonfires are burned and thousands of tourists and townspeople have fun. A fun cider festival is also held here.
For a relaxing family holiday, the Arbeyal beach is ideal. It should be noted that all the beaches of the city were awarded the highest distinction - the Blue Flag.
Gijon in Spain: sights of the city
It's hard to believe, but just a hundred years ago, on the site where the modern city is located, there was a tiny fishing village. know Gijon in Spain as an actively developing resort, cultural center of the country with many interesting objects of history and architecture. There are ancient places of worship and museums, parks and squares, sports facilities and many other interesting places here. But usually the ancient city of Gijón in Spain, the photo of which you can see in this article, tourists begin to study from its historical part - Simadevilla. We will not break the tradition either.
Historic city center - Simadevilla district
It is located in the fishing village of Cimadevilla, on a peninsula that divides the port in half. Most of the local streets are lined with cobblestones. Many buildings have been renovated in recent years. On the Santa Catalina hill, opposite the sea, there is an amazing sculpture "Praise" by Eduardo Chillida. She is the symbol of this part of the city.
In Simadeville, you can visit the clock tower, which today houses the historical archive. In addition, Roman baths located in the old part of the city are popular among tourists.
Museum of the people of Asturias
One of the most interesting cultural centers in Gijon (Spain) is the Museum of the People of Asturias, which acquaints guests with the culture and peculiarities of the life of the local population. This ethnographic museum began work in 1968 and during this time has earned recognition not only of the townspeople, but also of numerous tourists.
The museum has an unusual layout - it is located on the territory of the park and consists of several free-standing pavilions, each of which contains its own unique collection.
Jovellanos House Museum
For tourists who like excursions, we recommend visiting the Jovellanos House Museum. This is a beautiful building of a palace type, which for many years belonged to the family of the famous Spanish writer. The museum was opened in 1971, and today it houses a large collection of works of art. It hosts conferences, concerts and other city events.
Isabelle Park
In the middle of the 20th century, the architect Ramon Ortiz created a landscape park in the city, which he named in honor of Queen Isabella I of Castile. Today the park area occupies fifteen hectares. There are a lot of fun rides, bright flower beds. Shady alleys are decorated with sculptures. Especially attractive is the picturesque pond, along the banks of which peacocks stroll importantly, swans, ducks and geese nest.
Aquarium
Has its own aquarium Gijon. Spain boasts many such structures, but this one is unusual in that it is located on the Poniente beach. It features four thousand underwater inhabitants - from otters and penguins to sharks, which are kept in fifty tanks. More than twelve separate underwater environments have been restored here, from the Bay of Biscay and Asturian rivers to tropical oceans.
Gijon Workers University
Lovers of architectural monuments will be interested in the working university of Hicon in Spain. It is considered the main architectural landmark of the city. The university was founded in 1946 and was intended for children from families of coal miners.
Today it houses the Faculty of the University of Oviedo, the Center for Industrial Creativity, the Graduate School of Stage and the Conservatory. The height of the main tower of the building is 130 meters. There is an observation deck on the high bell tower, which offers amazing views of the city and its surroundings.
Roman Baths Museum
Gijón in Spain is capable of impressing even sophisticated connoisseurs of historical monuments. Specialists attribute the construction of baths to the 1st-2nd centuries AD. In the 6th century they were still used as living quarters, and in the Middle Ages a necropolis was organized here.
Picturesque ruins have survived to this day, where you can see unique frescoes. The heating system is also well preserved.
El Molinon Stadium
It is the oldest operating football stadium in Spain, located on the banks of the Pilies River. It was built in 1908, and previously there was a water mill on this site. In 1969, the stadium underwent a large-scale reconstruction, during which the stands were covered with a visor for the first time in Spain.
Today the stadium seats thirty thousand people. It is the home arena for the famous football club Sporting (Gijon, Spain). But besides football matches, concerts of Spanish and foreign artists are often held here. At various times, the stadium applauded the band and Tina Turner, the Bon Jovi band and Sting, Paul McCarthy and Bruce Springsteen.
What is attractive about the town of Gijon in Spain: reviews of tourists
Most of the tourists who chose Gijon from the many Spanish resorts did not regret it at all. On the contrary, they were pleased with the opportunity not only to relax on the magnificent beaches, but also to visit many of the most interesting places that Gijon is rich in.
The advantages of rest in this city are considered by many to be the absence of a huge number of tourists, in contrast to many famous Spanish resorts. Fun youth groups and families with children can have a great time here. There are many hotels in the city, where you can always choose a room according to your requirements.
*** This story is part of a larger story about a trip to northern Spain: " Spanish of the North - from Bilbao to Gijón: unusual Spain". It is clear that a passage taken out of the general context by definition loses a lot, so it is best to read the whole story in its entirety - if you wish, it is very easy to find it!
0 0
I arrived in Gijón in the evening, when the setting sun gilded the buildings of the old city, built of yellow stone:
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
The main symbol of Gijon is the famous Pelayo, the image of which can be found here even on garbage containers:
0 0
0 0
0 0
Pelayo - Visigothic king, the first ruler Kingdoms of Asturias, and therefore, if we simplify the situation and do not get into the jungle (in this story I do not want to do this) of all centuries-old historical intricacies - the first king of Spain, since Asturias, having existed under this name for about two centuries, began to be called the Kingdom of Leon, which later entered in the composition of Castile, well, namely Castile, no matter what the Aragonese say, was the nucleus of the formation of modern Spain.
It is believed that it was from Pelayo that the Spanish reconquista "pushed off", which lasted almost 8 centuries. It was under his command in 718 (according to some sources - in 722) that the first victory over the Muslims who seized the Pyrenees a few years ago was won, which went down in history as Battle of Covadonga... From a military point of view, it did not solve anything, because it did not in any way affect the alignment of the opposing forces at that moment, but its psychological significance was difficult to overestimate: according to G. Morton "The victory was the beginning of the Reconquista and led to the birth of the first of the Christian kingdoms - the Kingdom of Asturias.". Like most of its kind, this event instantly became overgrown with symbols and legends. Over time, Covadonga became a place of worship and pilgrimage. In the cave where Pelayo is believed to have hid during the battle, there is now a small chapel depicting Our Lady of Covadonga, declared the patroness of Asturias .And the cross that Pelayo allegedly saw before the battle, called Cross of victory(Cruz de la Victoria), still adorns the coat of arms and flag of the modern Principality of Asturias:
0 0
A lot of loud words have been written about this victory, but I, speaking about it, would like to refrain from excessive pathos. In the end, we must not forget that those who recaptured the Pyrenean lands came here as invaders only 200 years ago ...
However, no matter how great and revered here (let me remind you that Gijon is the largest city in terms of population in Asturias, although its capital is Oviedo) Señor Pelayo, I am not sure that he belongs to the unconditional 1st place among local symbols. Because in Gijon he has another very strong competitor, or rather a competitor, since in Spain this word refers to the feminine gender: this is La sidra, or, more simply, simply cider.
Cider - an apple low-alcohol (from 3 to 8 degrees) drink - has long been produced and drunk in many countries: France, England, Belgium, Ireland, Germany. I don't know how there, but in Asturias, and it is in Gijon (of those cities that I visited) that cider is a cult drink. To be honest, I thought that despite all its historicity and symbolism, the attitude of local residents towards cider is relatively calm: well, yes, it is, but there are no problems with it, yes, it can be found in every bar, yes, it is still sip. And perhaps (as I thought) cider has already become more of a tourist attraction than a part of the local way of life.
But no, no, and again no! I couldn't even imagine the scale of the local sidropit! In the evening, there was a huge crowd of people on the tables at every cafe and bar and EVERYONE was drinking cider! :) Of course, if you wanted, you could probably find a couple of renegades and opportunists, bashfully huddled in a corner, sipping beer or wine, but in any case they were completely lost among the masses drinking a yellow drink from green bottles. Evening Gijón lived on cider and only cider - and no Pelayo could compete with him in popularity. It looked something like this:
0 0
And this is far from the most crowded cider house, as, as you might guess, the institutions specializing in cider are called here. Now I regret that I did not take more similar photos in different places - I could have got a wonderful and visual photoset "cider in Gijon" ... For some reason I paid much more attention to the signs:
0 0
0 0
The last photo is not indicative in terms of "crowdedness" - this is already a slightly different part of the city, where people come not so much to drink and have fun as to chat quietly.
Gijón, by the way, turned out to be the only city (again, of those where I was) where you could taste cider simply by asking for a glass (in other places it was sold only in bottles). Which I did, paying 1 euro and eating free pintxos with choriso from a tray on the bar counter. My opinion about the cider turned out to be quite even: on the one hand, I cannot say that I did not like it - and later I ordered it several times for lunch. On the other hand, it is unlikely that I will dream about it, and if I never visit the "cider" regions again, I will not be particularly upset about this. By the way, approximately the same attitude towards him, apparently, exists in Cantabria: when in Castro Urdiales I asked the bartender why they do not offer cider, he indifferently shrugged his shoulders and said: “No, it's just that everyone already knows that it is everywhere, and if anyone wants to drink something cheaper, he orders cider. "
The process of pouring cider from a bottle into a glass deserves a special talk (they are also special: large, wide, slightly conical. In Spain they are called culín - I don’t know how ubiquitous they are). A waiter or bartender raises one hand with a bottle high up, lowers the glass in the other hand as low as possible and begins the mystical process of “pouring”, which in Spanish corresponds to the verb escanciar, which in translation simply means “pouring wine”. It looks like this:
0 0
Sometimes the word "echar" or "tirar" is used for this situation, which translates more interestingly: throw, throw, drop. Traditionally, it is believed that cider should be drunk as long as the foam formed during pouring - "throwing" lasts in the glass, and what remains after its disappearance should be simply poured out. In ancient times, this was done directly on the floor, later in some establishments they began to install special gutters, into which numerous remnants of cider were poured. I read that with such foaming, the cider is enriched with carbon dioxide from the air, which somehow affects its taste in a special way. I can’t say anything about this: I drank cider and froth, and when the froth had already disappeared and, to be honest, I didn’t feel the difference in taste.
With such popular popularity, the appearance of the "cider monument" on the Gijón embankment is not at all surprising. What is more surprising is that, judging by the pictures from Google cameras, it appeared only recently:
0 0
0 0
0 0
Gijón in its historical part (frankly speaking, it is still difficult to call it an old city) is a very colorful and vibrant city - in the truest sense of these words, and a walk through it brought a lot of positive emotions.
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
Main square, traditional for any Spanish city Plaza mayor in a traditional arcade style and on it, of course, the same ayuntamiento:
0 0
0 0
The most recognizable building of Gijon, we can safely say - its symbol, is Revigliajedo palace(Palacio de Revillagigedo), built at the very beginning of the 18th century.
0 0
It is not surprising that the palace resembles a fortress: during its construction, a medieval fortress tower of the 15th century was used (it is on the right, if you look at the facade of the building). But the left one was already built in its image and likeness for the general symmetry of the building. It is curious that a large coat of arms in the upper part of the facade appeared on the palace quite recently - in 2004 after a thorough study of historical documents and photographs of the 19th century.
The Revigliajedo Palace turned out to be one of the most beautiful and authentic buildings that I have ever seen in northern Spain!
15 years after the construction of the palace on the left, a small church was added to it, consecrated in honor of John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista), but it received the status of a colleague. Her square tower can be seen in previous photographs.
Another "brand" of Gijon, of course, significantly inferior in popularity to Pelayo and cider (or cider and Pelayo) is a personality Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos- Spanish writer and public and political figure of the artist's time Goya and Prime Minister Manuel Godoy, known as the "Prince of Peace". Those who read the book L. Feuchtwanger“Goya, or the Difficult Path of Cognition”, probably remember the vicissitudes of the relationship between these characters. A street, a theater, and a faculty of the local university are named in his honor in Gijón; here is the Jovellanos Institute and, of course, the house-museum where he was born.
Next to the preserved (relatively, of course) Roman baths, there is a monument to the emperor Octavian August, during whose reign, after the conquest of Cantabria and Asturias (which went down in history under the name Cantabrian Wars) the entire Iberian Peninsula finally came under the rule of the Roman Empire. And after the administrative reform of Augustus, the "north" became part of the province of Tarracon Spain.
0 0
By the way, it was in these places that the Romans "borrowed" many symbols associated with the Moon and the Sun, in particular - the standard with the so-called Cantabrian cross(Lábaro cántabro), which was then used for about 300 years.
0 0
Which church fence can be decorated with keys? Of course, the main "heavenly" administrator - apostle Peter !
0 0
And the church itself - here it is, you could see it more than once in previous photos:
0 0
Another small medieval ensemble of the 17th century: chapel of St. Lawrence and Hove Evia tower(Jove-Hevia). Both buildings were part of the family house of the family with the aforementioned double surname:
0 0
In general, the historical part of Gijón is very small, but somehow ... very charming, or something - I did not regret at all that I came here.
0 0
Modern Gijon- it is mainly a city of the 19-20 centuries, in some places reminiscent of Bilbao. And, in my opinion, there is much less interesting here.
0 0
0 0
0 0
Church of St. Joseph(San José):
0 0
Neo-Gothic (early 20th century) St. Lawrence Church:
Gijón is the largest city in Asturias, nestled on green hills by the sea. The old part of the city encompasses a peninsula, the top of which is crowned with the modern abstract composition Praise the Horizon. Cobblestone streets lined with colorful houses are lined with restaurants and bars selling renowned local cider, while arches lead to the stylish Plaza Mayor. Underground are the ruins of the Roman baths "Campo Valdes", those interested in history can also visit the archaeological park "Campa de Torres".
On both sides of the peninsula, along the marinas, the aquarium and the spa resort of Talasoponiente, runs the Poniente Beach. The small Playa del Arbeyal Beach is located next to the port, while the promenade of the popular San Lorenzo Beach leads to the Church of San Pedro.
In Gijon you can go diving, watch dolphins, and for golf lovers there are 2 golf courses in the city's green area. The Atlantic Botanical Gardens - the first in northern Spain - are laid out opposite the impressive campus of the Gijón Workers' University. The Isabella Katolichki Landscape Park is close to the El Bibio bullring, and across the river is the Gijón Exhibition Center and the Asturian Museum.
The house-museum of Melchor de Jovellanos, the greatest native of the city, is also open to visitors, after whom the elegant theater is named overlooking the Paseo de Begonia Park.
Among the options for accommodation in Gijon, offered on the site - and luxury beach hotels, and guest houses near the station, and old mini-hotels.
Today Gijon is one of the constellation of the largest cities on the Cantabrian coast. The beautiful bend of the coastline allows you to admire the unique picture created by rocky cliffs and huge boulders, between which there are comfortable bays with cozy beaches. The rugged, steep banks are the main attraction of the area in which Gijón is located.
The very geographical position of the city of Gijón contributes to the development of tourism. It is only half an hour drive along an amazing highway that separates it from Ranon Airport. The central part of Gijon looks like a huge amphitheater. A few steps from the center of Gijon is the amazing San Lorenzo beach with fine sand. For those who do not want to relax on the central beach, the beaches of La Cagonera y La Nora, Serin, Penarrubia, El Rinconin, the restored El Arbeyal and Poniente, as well as small beaches hidden in the rocks, offer their services.
However, the city offers more than just the opportunity to sunbathe. Here is the finest bagpipe museum, the art center at the Palace of Revilyahihedo, Barjola (Museum of Contemporary Art). The pedestrianized shopping street Corrida will also leave an unforgettable experience. Copyright www.site
There is an interesting Railway Museum in the city; it was opened in one of the most beautiful historical buildings. It was built in 1874 and was previously a railway station, and several old railway lines have survived next to it. The opening of the museum took place relatively recently, in 1998; the basis of its exposition is made up of 140 old carriages, locomotives and railroad trains. In total, the museum has collected about a thousand exhibits, one way or another related to the history of the development of the railway.
The local aquarium, which was opened in 2006, introduces the diversity of the inhabitants of the underwater world to the guests of Gijón. The aquarium is a large educational center, in addition to the oceanarium itself, there are several training rooms and museums within its walls. The center managed to recreate 60 unique aquatic ecosystems; it acquaints visitors with the peculiarities of the inhabitants of various rivers and seas of the world. The center regularly hosts interesting educational events, which will be interesting not only for children, but also for adults.
The city has the only botanical garden in Northern Spain, it was founded in 2003. Today the garden covers an area of about 16 hectares; it is accessible for visiting all year round. Thanks to the presence of special covered pavilions, visitors to the garden can admire the variety of rare plants and flowers even in winter, and also take part in various entertainment events. The botanical garden regularly hosts concerts, thematic conferences and various master classes.
On the territory of the city you can see several unique ancient sights; here are the ruins of ancient Roman baths. The ancient complex has been amazingly preserved after more than 1,800 years.Today, visitors to the thermal baths can admire artful ancient mosaics, and also see the heating system developed by ancient engineers.
