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Gijón
Overview
Gijón (Spanish: [xiˈxon] ) or Xixón (Asturian: [ʃiˈʃoŋ]) is a city and municipality in northwestern Spain. It is the largest city and municipality by population in the autonomous community of Asturias.
It is located on the coast of the Cantabrian Sea in the Bay of Biscay, in the central-northern part of Asturias; it is approximately 24 km (15 mi) northeast of Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, and 26 km (16 mi) from Avilés. With a population of 270,219 as of 2024, Gijón is the 16th-largest city in Spain.
Gijón forms part of a large metropolitan area that includes twenty councils in the center of the region, structured with a dense network of roads, highways and railways and with a population of 835,053 inhabitants in 2011, making it the 7th-largest in Spain.
During the 20th century, Gijón developed as an industrial city in the steel and naval industries. However, due to the decline in manufacturing in these industries, in recent years Gijón is undergoing a transformation into an important tourist, university, commercial and R&D center. Gijón is the location of the Radiotelevisión del Principado de Asturias, the neighbourhood of Cimavilla, the Universidad Laboral de Gijón, the Revillagigedo Palace, and the adjoining Collegiate Church of San Juan Bautista.
Gijón is part of the statistical (not yet developed from an administrative standpoint) comarca of Gijón.
Facts
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Source
WBP almanac
External sources
Media
From Wikipedia3,936 words
WBP editorial3
Coastal rhythm beyond the beach
Gijón’s waterfront stretches beyond the sandy promenades, weaving a network of industrial heritage and maritime habitus. The old shipyards, now retrofitted as cultural venues, host impromptu jazz sessions and photography pop‑ups, offering a glimpse of the city’s adaptive reuse ethos. Early mornings, local fishmongers unload the day’s catch directly onto the quay, and the salty air carries the chatter of dockworkers discussing the tide. Visitors who linger over a café on the harbour side can observe the subtle dance between the modern marina and the older fishing village, a juxtaposition that shapes the city’s identity far more than its well‑known landmarks.
Asturian culinary shortcuts
While the cider houses of the countryside draw many, Gijón quietly nurtures its own version of the sidra experience within neighbourhood taverns. Here, the pouring ritual is faster, the crowd tighter, and the accompanying snack—typically a slice of fabada or a simple ham croquette—serves as a bridge between urban bustle and rural tradition. For a deeper taste, seek out the market of Plaza de la Guía on a Tuesday; the stalls overflow with fresh coastal produce, and the chef‑run stalls often let you glimpse the preparation of the city's signature sea‑to‑table dishes, an insight guidebooks rarely capture.