The coastal city of Gijón, founded in Roman times, preserves traces of its past in its museums and historic centre, and its medieval and modern architecture in its churches, buildings and palaces. It has a wide variety of green spaces such as Santa Catalina Park on the hill overlooking the Cantabrian Sea, and the Atlantic Botanical Garden that preserves the natural heritage of the North Atlantic; exquisite gastronomy; beaches and coves of unspoiled beauty and much more.
- Some emblematic places of Gijón are: the Church of San Pedro overlooking the San Lorenzo Bay, the House of Jovellanos, the palace of Revillagigedo and Universidad Laboral among others.
- Some architectural styles that characterize some of the buildings of the city are: Baroque, Neoclassicism, Neo-Mudejar, Eclectic, Modernist, Regionalist, Art Deco, Neo-Herrerian and industrial constructions.
- One well-known person from Gijón was Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, a recognized Enlightenment writer who, among other things, had the merit of fostering knowledge and creating future generations of free thinkers and advocates of progress at the local and national level.
- In the city there are also churches, squares, monuments and sculptures that keep the historical memory of Gijón alive; parks and gardens for walking, observing the coastal or urban landscape, playing sports or relaxing surrounded by the tranquillity of the flora and fauna; and traditional festivals that allow people to get to know the local community through its traditions.
- Some typical Asturian dishes are based on fish, meat, products with “protected designation of origin” and “protected geographical indication” such as the Asturian bean (faba asturiana), cider (sidra), the Asturian veal (ternera asturiana) and cheeses such as Cabrales.
Some parks and gardens of Gijón are:
- Park (Parque de Santa Catalina);
- Gardens (Jardines de la Reina);
- Gardens (Jardines del Náutico);
- Plaza de San Miguel;
- Paseo de Begoña;
- Plaza Europa;
- Park (Parque de Zarracina);
- Park (Parque de la Fábrica de Gas);
- Park (Parque de Isabel La Católica);
- Park (Parque marítimo de El Rinconín);
- Park (Parque del Cabo San Lorenzo);
- Park (Parque fluvial del río Piles);
- Park (Parque de Los Pericones);
- Path (Via verde de La Camocha);
- Botanical garden (Jardín Botánico Atlántico);
- Park (Parque del monte Deva);
- Archaeological and natural park (Parque Arqueológico Natural de la Campa Torres).
Among the museums of Gijón there are:
- Museum (Museo Villa Romana de Veranes);
- Museum (Museo Termas Romanas de Campo Valdés);
- House and art museum (Museo Casa Natal de Jovellanos);
- Contemporary art museum (Museo Barjola);
- Art museum (Museo Nicanor Piñole);
- Museum (Fundación Museo Evaristo Valle);
- Art centre (LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial);
- Museum about the regional historical memory (Muséu del Pueblu d’Asturies);
- Museum (Museo del Ferrocarril de Asturias);
- Museum (Museo de la Ciudadela de Celestino Solar).
OTHER CITIES IN THE PRINCIPALITY OF ASTURIAS TO VISIT:
- Llanes is a municipality with wonderful beaches and an interesting cultural and natural heritage that includes churches, palaces and buildings of historical interest. It also features the Paseo de San Pedro, a park located along a cliff offering spectacular views; delicious cuisine; interesting traditional festivals; and a work of art in the port. Read more about Llanes here.
- Oviedo has origins that date back to the Middle Ages. Relics from the time of Alfonso II can be found in the Cathedral of Oviedo. The city is also an interesting tourist attraction for its cultural heritage; it preserves Asturian pre-Romanesque art, developed between the 9th and 10th centuries, in some buildings declared world heritage by UNESCO. To learn more about what to see in Oviedo, read here.
- Finally, Ribadesella is a coastal village very popular for a famous event that takes place on the first Saturday of August after day 2, the Descenso Internacional del Sella by canoes. The municipality has an important cultural heritage due to the prehistoric sites in caves in the area. To learn more about what to see in Ribadesella read here.
