Gijón

Gijón is a lively city and municipality in northwestern Spain. It is the largest city in the autonomous community of Asturias, sitting along the beautiful Cantabrian Sea in the Bay of Biscay. The city is about 24 kilometres northeast of Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, and 26 kilometres from Avilés.

As of 2024, Gijón is home to around 270,219 people, making it the 16th-largest city in Spain. It is part of a bigger area with over 800,000 people, connected by many roads, highways, and railways.

During the 20th century, Gijón grew as an important place for steel and ship-making. Today, the city is changing into a centre for tourism, learning, business, and new discoveries. Visitors and students can explore places like the Radiotelevisión del Principado de Asturias, the historic neighbourhood of Cimavilla, and the Universidad Laboral de Gijón.

Etymology

One idea about the name Gijón comes from old writings that call the city "Gigia". This name might come from an old word meaning "giant". The name could have been inspired by an old wall in the area, which the Romans called something that also means "giant".

Another idea is that the city’s name started from a Roman word that changed over time. The Spanish name "Gijón" might be a version of an older local name. This idea is thought to be the most likely today.

History

The history of Gijón begins thousands of years ago. Early signs of people living in the area were found on Monte Deva and Monte Areo, showing that people lived there around 5000 BC.

During ancient times, the first known settlement was called Noega, located in Campa Torres. It was home to the Astures people and later became part of the Roman world. Over time, as new walls were built, Noega was slowly left behind.

In the Middle Ages, the area experienced many changes. After invasions by barbarian tribes, the region came under the rule of Visigoth kings. Later, it was briefly controlled by Muslim leaders before the Asturians won important battles, beginning what is known as the Reconquista. Gijón was officially recognized as a settlement in 1270.

The city faced hard times in the 14th century when it was burned and almost destroyed. But it recovered, and by the 15th and 16th centuries, it grew with new docks for fishing and trade. The 17th and 18th centuries brought fast growth, supported by trade with American colonies, until wars and financial problems slowed things down.

In the 19th century, Gijón grew quickly thanks to coal trade and new roads and railways. A new port called El Musel opened in 1893, becoming an important coal port. The city changed into an industrial center, with new neighborhoods and services such as water and lighting.

During the Spanish Civil War, Gijón supported the Republican side. After the war, iron and steel remained the main industries until the late 20th century. Later, these industries faced challenges, leading to changes in the city's landscape, including new parks, beaches, and neighborhoods. A campus of the University of Oviedo was also established.

Geography

Gijón is a city located on the coast of central Asturias in Spain. It stretches from sea level up to higher areas, bordered by other places such as Carreño to the west, Villaviciosa to the east, and Siero and Llanera to the south. The city features a special area called the peninsula of Cimavilla, which separates different parts of the city, including beaches and ports. It is near other important cities like Oviedo and Avilés.

Gijón has a mild and wet climate, influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. This means the summers are cool and the winters are not too cold. The city experiences a lot of cloudy and rainy days, but it is still comfortable most of the year.

Districts

Gijón is divided into six districts: Center, East, South, West, El Llano, and Rural. The Rural district includes the area just outside the city and the countryside areas around it.

Demographics

The number of people living in Gijón grew a lot during the 1900s, especially from the 1960s to the 1980s, when it doubled. Since the 1990s, the growth slowed down, matching the rest of Spain. But because of people moving in from other places in Asturias and from other countries, the population began to grow again around the year 2000.

As of 2024, about 12.5% of the people in Gijón were born in other countries. The five biggest groups of these people are from Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Argentina, and Romania.

Culture

Cultural activities happen all year in Gijón, but they grow bigger in the summer, especially in August during the Feast of the Assumption. There are parties, music, and theater, along with shows at the Jovellanos Municipal Theater. Some of the yearly events include the Iberoamerican Book Fair in May, the Semana Negra in July, the Feria Internacional de Muestras de Asturias, the Gijón International Film Festival, and the Semana Mágica Festival in December.

The Universidad Laboral de Gijón, finished in 1955, houses the Laboral Center of Art and Industrial Creation. This center opened in 2007 and is a place where art, science, and technology come together. Gijón has also become a popular stop for the Cirque du Soleil. Shows like Saltimbanco, Alegría, and Varekai have performed there.

Gijón is the birthplace of Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, an important writer and thinker from the Age of Enlightenment.

Film

The filmmaker José Luis Garci shot much of his award-winning film Volver a empezar in Gijón during the early 1980s. In the early 1990s, the city became known for its indie music scene called the "Xixón Sound." Parts of the comedy film Mortadelo & Filemon: The Big Adventure were also filmed in Gijón. In 2009, the Laboral area was used to portray the University of Oxford in the film Brain Drain. The 2021 film El Planeta by Amalia Ulman was both shot in and talks about Gijón.

Museums and art galleries

Gijón has many places to explore history and art, including the Museum of the Asturian People, the Railway museum of Asturias, the Campo Valdés Roman Baths Museum, the Juan Barjola Museum, the Evaristo Valle museum, the International Bagpipe Museum, the Atlantic botanical garden, the Archaeological park Campa Torres, the Revillagigedo Palace and museum, the Gijón Aquarium, the Roman Town of Veranes, and the Laboral Center of Art and Industrial Creation.

Universities

Gijón has two university campuses. One belongs to the University of Oviedo, offering programs in engineering, commerce, tourism, and social sciences. The other is a branch of the National University of Distance Education, where students can study various subjects remotely.

Sports

Gijón has many sports teams and places to play. The city’s main football team is Sporting de Gijón, which plays in the Spanish second division. Another important team is CP Gijón Solimar, one of Europe’s best women’s roller hockey teams.

The city also has basketball teams like Círculo Gijón, and there is a big horse show called CSI Gijón held every year. There is a large private sports club, Real Grupo de Cultura Covadonga, with many members and teams. Nearby, you can find ski resorts in Asturias. The city’s marina is home to many boats and water sports, with the Royal Astur Yacht Club being the main yacht club. In 2022, Gijón hosted a tennis tournament for the first time.

Sports venues

Gijón has big sports centers such as Estadio El Molinón, which has 30,000 seats, and Plaza de Toros de El Bibio with 12,000 seats. The city has 13 public sports centers with swimming pools, gyms, and saunas. Children up to age 14 can swim for free.

Economy

For much of the 20th century, Gijón relied on heavy industries. But by the end of a time called Francoism, jobs in services grew quickly, and the city's population increased. By 2007, about 277,897 people lived in Gijón itself, with around 380,000 in the larger area.

The port is important for local businesses. The city's economy also includes tourism, steel production at Arcelor, other metalwork, raising animals, and fishing.

Transport

Airports

Gijón uses Asturias Airport, which is about 38 kilometers away. You can get there using the A-8 motorway, the N-632 road, or a scheduled bus service with Alsa.

Seaport

Main article: El Musel

The ferry service by LD Lines in Gijón has stopped. The nearest ferry services are now in Santander and Bilbao. But Gijón still has strong freight services through El Musel.

Public transport

Gijón has 18 bus lines and four extra night bus lines called Búho. These night buses run on Friday and Saturday nights, and every night in July and August.

Railway

The city is served by the Gijón Railway Station.

Roads and highways

Government

PSOE was the ruling group in the city from 1979 until 2011, which is the longest time any one group has been in charge since Spain's transition to democracy.

Carmen Moriyón is the current mayor. She became mayor on June 17, 2023 and belongs to the Asturian Forum.

Councillors distribution in local elections

Notable people

Gijón has been home to many famous people from different fields. Lara Álvarez, a well-known journalist and television presenter, was born there in 1986. Pablo Carreño Busta, a professional tennis player, was also born in Gijón in 1991.

Other notable individuals include Luis Enrique, a former football player and current football manager, and Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, an important statesman, author, and philosopher from the 18th century. The city has also seen the birth of artists like Carolina del Castillo Díaz and actors such as Natalia Estrada and Blanca Romero.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain

Twin towns - Sister cities

Gijón has partnerships with cities in different countries. These include:

• Albuquerque, United States
• Havana, Cuba
• Niort, France (since 1982)
• Novorossiysk, Russia (since 1986)
• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Smara, Western Sahara