The city of Gijón in Spain is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the autonomy of Asturias. For a long time, Gijon 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 actively develop in Gijon, which significantly replenishes the city budget.
History of Gijón
On the land where the city is today, the first settlement appeared in the VI century BC. In the 1st century BC e. it was conquered by the Romans. The influence of Roman culture is still clearly visible in the architecture of the city, especially in the mansions between San Lorenzo and the marina.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Gijón was taken over 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 forcedescape to the caves of Asturias. It was there that the Madonna appeared to him and convinced him of the need to fight and defend the Christian faith.
Whether the Madonna appeared or not, in 722 Pelayo's army defeated the Arabs in Covadonga. This event was the beginning of the reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula by Christians. In 1395, a terrible fire almost wiped out Gijón in Spain from the face of the earth. However, it was restored rather quickly.
In 1480, the city began to build a port on the north 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 country's main ports.
Climatic conditions
Everyone who plans to visit this city is probably interested in what the weather is like in Gijón. Spain is famous for its mild Atlantic climate. Gijón is no exception: it doesn't get as hot here 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 fall below +5 °C. The only thing that can overshadow the rest is the rains that happen in these places quite often. The swimming season is quite short - from June to August. The rest of the time, the water in the ocean does not warm up above +15 °C.
Beach vacation
Gijon 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 city 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 lovers of extreme recreation. There are quite strong currents and large differences in depths. Fans of noisy entertainment are better off choosing Poniente Beach. The purest sand was brought here from the Sahara desert. The San Juan holiday is celebrated annually on this beach: bonfires are lit all night and thousands of vacationers and townspeople have fun. There is also a fun cider festival.
Arbeyal beach is ideal for a relaxing family holiday. It should be noted that all the beaches of the city have been 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 of today's modern city, there was a tiny fishing village. Modern travelers know Gijon in Spain as an actively developing resort, the cultural center of the country with many interesting historical and architectural objects. There are ancient places of worship and museums, parks and squares, sports facilities and many other interesting places. But usually the ancient city of Gijon in Spain, a photo of which you can see in this article, tourists begin to explore from its historical part - Simadeville. We will not break the tradition either.
Historic City Center - Cimadevilla District
It is located in the fishing village of Cimadevilla, on a peninsula that is bisected by the port. Majoritythe local streets are lined with cobblestones. Many buildings have been restored in recent years. On the hill of Santa Catalina, opposite the sea, there is an amazing sculpture "Praise" by Eduardo Chillida. She is the symbol of this part of the city.
In Cimadevilla you can visit the clock tower, which today houses the historical archive. In addition, the 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 Gijón (Spain) is the Museum of the People of Asturias, which introduces guests to the culture and lifestyle of the local population. This ethnographic museum began its work in 1968 and during this time has earned the recognition of not only citizens, but also numerous tourists.
The museum has an unusual layout - it is located in the park and consists of several separate pavilions, each of which houses its own unique collection.
Jovellanos House Museum
Tourists who love excursions are recommended to visit the House Museum of Jovellanos. This is a beautiful building of the 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. Conferences, concerts and other city events are held here.
Park Isabelle
In the middle of the 20th century, the architect Ramon Ortiz created in the citylandscape park, which was named after Queen Isabella I of Castile. Today the park area occupies fifteen hectares. There are many fun attractions, 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
It also has its own Gijón aquarium. Spain boasts many such structures, but this one is unusual in that it is located on Poniente Beach. It features four thousand underwater inhabitants - from otters and penguins to sharks, which are contained in fifty tanks. More than twelve separate underwater environments have been restored here, from the Bay of Biscay and Asturian rivers to tropical oceans.
Khihon Workers' University
Fans 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 mine workers.
Today it houses the Faculty of the University of Oviedo, the Center for Industrial Creativity, the Higher Stage School 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 able to amaze even sophisticated connoisseurs of historicalmonuments. The construction of baths belongs to the I-II centuries of our era. In the 6th century they were still used as living quarters, and in the Middle Ages a necropolis was organized here.
To this day, picturesque ruins have survived, in which you can see unique frescoes. The heating system is also well preserved.
El Molinon Stadium
This is the oldest football stadium in operation in Spain, located on the banks of the Piles River. It was built in 1908, and before there was a water mill on this site. In 1969, the stadium underwent a major reconstruction, during which the stands were covered with a visor for the first time in Spain.
Today the stadium can accommodate 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 has applauded the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner, Bon Jovi 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 Gijón 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, many include the absence of a huge number of tourists, unlike many famous Spanish resorts. Here you can have a great time andcheerful youth companies, and families with children. There are many hotels in the city where you can always choose a room according to your requirements.
