GIJÓN
Geography
The municipality of Gijón has an area of 181.7 square kilometres and it is located in the centre of the wide strip Asturian seaboard. The rugged and uneven coast contrasts with the smooth relief of the interior of the municipality, with a maxim height of 672 meters (2204 feet) above sea level. Gijon is located in a privileged location in the Asturian geography, a few minutes away from Oviedo and Avilés and thirty minutes away from the Asturian Airport and from the municipalities of the coalfields. The centre of Gijón, which layout seems an amphitheatre, is marked by the large sandy area of San Lorenzo, the main beach of the town. Next to it, we can discover the renewed beaches of Poniente and El Arbeyal and the characteristic beaches of El Rinconín, Peñarrubia, Serín, La Cagonera and La Ñora, in the border with Villaviciosa.
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Gijón has an oceanic climate with abundant rains during the coldest season and the first days of spring. In summer, the weather is steady and warm. The average rainfall is one of the lowest of the region: 1000 litres per square metres. The average temperature is of 14ºC (57.2) with a maximum temperature of 24ºC (75ºF) during the hot season and a minimum temperature of 10ºC (50ºF) and 11ºC (51.8ºF) during the coldest month. There are sporadic winds depending on the season. In winter, the coastal winds are mild and warm and flow from the South-East but in summer the winds are cold and dry and flow from the North-East creating a fresh, bright and dry climate. When to go Gijón offers a whole-year variety of possibilities since weather is always pleasant and festivities are quite diverse. Autumn and spring offer the best climate and in summer there is almost no rainfall. The city of Gijón is embraced by the magnificent Bay of Biscay which has denoted the history of the city for over 5,000 years. Gijón is the seaport of the Ruta de la Plata (Way of La Plata) and it has kept alive its Roman past through the actions made in the Archaelogical Park of Campa de Torres, one the main fortified cities in the North of Spain (before 490 B.C.), and in the restored thermal baths of Campo Valdés which is a public building dating from the late 1st Century A.D. The Romanesque churches dating from the 12th and 13th Centuries are the living proof of the occupation that took place in the city during the Middle Ages. The founding of Puebla in 1270 means an urban expansion stopped in the late 14th Century, when Gijón turned into the scenario of the Trastamara conflicts that ended up crumbling the city. In the 18th Century, the enlightened Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos designed the city layout. The industrialization process that began in the mid-19th Century turned the city into the industrial centre of Asturias with the thriving harbour of El Musel, the shipyards and the numerous manufacturing facilities. The continuous modernization of Gijón and the splendid natural conditions of the city turned it into a major tourist area with a great cultural and sport offer. In the beginning of a new century, Gijón is trying to maintain its remote historical past in order to use it as en example of its tourist excellence.
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Traditions
These are the most important festivities: Antroxu: one of the most spectacular carnivals in the North of Spain with parades, street bands competitions, carriages, people with floats and concerts for all kind of audiences. Holy Week: The centre of Gijón, specially the quarter of Cimadevilla, is venue of different religious processions. "Semana del Mar" (Sea Week): St. John and St. Peter. It is a week with different activities to remember the link of the city with the sea. After this the celebration of St. John takes place (a magical night of the Asturian culture) followed by diverse activities up to St. Peter’s Day (patron saint of the city) when a blessing of the waters marks the beginning of the beach season. St. Peter's Festivity: It takes place on 29th of June. The waters of the San Lorenzo Bay are blessed according to an ancient tradition during the summer, the bathing season.
Asturias Regional Day: (First Sunday of August) This year, the Cerro de Santa Catalina hill gathers most of the activities of the Asturias Day in Gijón with dances, bagpipes, lively parades and local sports. Semana Grande (Great Week): During these days the city is filled with a celebration soul. Open public concerts takes place in the different parks of the city. Great Night of the Fireworks: (August 14th). The eve to the Begonia celebration, fireworks illuminate the sky of the city with an amazing show that attracts hundreds of people. Fiesta de la Sidra Natural (Natural Cider Festival): From August 26th to August 28th. These days of celebrations are focused on the most popular drink of Asturias offering free tasting (world Guinness record for simultaneous pouring of cider) and cider waiters competitions together with traditional music and a little market of Cider and Apple. Gastronomy
Among the typical dishes we can mention: the beans that can be found in the widely known “Fabada con Campango” (a kind of stew with beans, chorizo, blood sausage and ham) or with clams, spider crabs, etc. and in the “Pote Asturiano” (a mixture of beans, potatoes, chorizo, blood sausage, bacon, ham, pork and cabbage). Other exquisite dishes are those prepared with the seafood from the Bay of Biscay. Among these dishes we have "Chopa a la Sidra" (black bream in cider sauce), “besugo a la espalda” (sea bream), tuna fish and sea urchins. Also, meat dishes are quite delicious and among these we have beef and chicken. Among desert we have "arroz con leche" (rice and milk pudding), "tarta charlota", "Gijón biscuit" or "princesitas". All these dishes accompanied with cider pouring it in "culines" (special glasses used to pour cider) are delicious during the long summer afternoons with a Spanish omelette, chorizos with cider and "empanadas".
