Asturias

GIJÓN
Facing out to sea
Gijón is a seafaring and industrial city.
Its historic old part is centred on the
Fishermen’s Quarter of Cimadevilla.
Cimadevilla separates the city’s two
sweeping beaches, San Lorenzo and
Poniente. Facing out to sea from a
point adjoining the Cimadevilla
district is Eduardo Chillida’s impressive
the former Pescadería (fish market),
today an administrative centre, and
the Gijón Jovellanos Birthplace
Museum (Museo Casa Natal de
Jovellanos) (3), housing collections of
Asturian paintings and a recreation of
the house of Gaspar Melchor de
Jovellanos, the 18th-century politician
and writer who was the leading
figure in Spain’s Age of
Enlightenment (Ilustración) and
Partial view of Gijón harbour
sculpture, entitled Elogio del
Horizonte (In praise of the Horizon)
(1). The “Elogio” is Gijón’s tourist
landmark and is situated on the
Santa Catalina headland, site of an
erstwhile military fortress and now
converted into a park. On the other
side of the hill, is the local quay-side
and marina. Fronting onto the
cobbled and semi-arcaded Plaza
Mayor (main square) is the 19thcentury
City Hall (Ayuntamiento)
(2). Adjacent to it are the buildings of
remains as a constant reference point
in the street names and history of
Gijón.
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday,
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 5 - 8 p.m.
Sundays and Public Holidays, 11 a.m.
-2 p.m. Closed Mondays.
* 98 534 63 13. St. Peter’s Church
(San Pedro) (4) stands at one end of
the bay. From here, the way now
leads into the adjoining Roman
Baths Museum (5). An explanatory
tour makes it possible for one to
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