Gijón

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Gijón
Xixón
Flag of Gijón Coat of arms of Gijón
(In detail) (In detail)

Principality of Asturias
Demonym
 • Spanish
 • Asturian

gijoneses
xixoninos, playos
Capital Gijón
Coordinates 43°32′N 5°42′W
Judicial district Gijón
Parishes 26
Population (2005)
 • Total
 • Density
 • % of Asturias
Rank: 1
273,931 inhabitants
1,508.43 people/km²
25.44 %
Area
 • Total
 • % of Asturias
Rank: 22
181.6 km²
1,71 %
Highest point Peña de los Cuatro Jueces, 672 m
Postcode 33200 to 33299
Mayor Paz Fernández Felgueroso (PSOE)
Town council 26 seats + the mayor
Political parties
(elections of 2003)
13 seats PSOE
11 seats PP
3 seats IU
Website http://www.gijon.es/


Pelayo
Enlarge
Pelayo

Gijón (Asturian: Xixón) is a coastal industrial city and its municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mentions it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history. The name was originally applied to a small peninsula presently referred to as Cimadevilla, literally "top of village," between two beaches, one of which has a recreational port today. The main port, one of the largest in the north of Spain, is called "El Musel". Gijón has a growing population of approximately 275,000 (2005).

Contents

[edit] Geography

The city is situated on the central Asturian coast, from sea level to an altitude of 513 metres at Picu San Martin and 672 metres at Peña de los Cuatro Jueces, bordered on the West by Carreño, the East by Villaviciosa, and to the South by Siero and Llanera

The city is situated along the Asturian coast and is distinguished by the peninsula of Cimadevilla (the original settlement) which separates the beach of San Lorenzo and adjacent neighborhoods to the east from the beaches of Poniente and Arbeyal, the shipyards, and the recreational port and the Port of El Musel to the west. It is close to the other main Asturian cities, Oviedo and Avilés.

[edit] Access

The bronze copy of the statue "Augustus of Prima Porta" at La Playa de San Lorenzo.
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The bronze copy of the statue "Augustus of Prima Porta" at La Playa de San Lorenzo.

The A-66 motorway (Ruta de La Plata), A-8 (Autopista del Cantábrico) and the AS-1 (Autovía Minera) are the main highway accesses. By train, Gijón has daily service to Madrid, La Coruña, Santander, and Barcelona. Cruise ships call at El Musel, and the Airport of Asturias is located in the not far away municipality of Castrillón with daily flights to major Spanish and European cities.

[edit] Climate

Atlantic, warm summers with both overcast and sunny days. In winter the weather is moderate, with significant rains and wind, although sometimes the cold climate of Asturias results in snowfall at sea level. Very high humidity as well.

[edit] Sports

Sporting de Gijón football team plays in the Spanish Liga and are presently in the second division. Gijón Baloncesto plays in the Spanish second professional basketball league. If you like the snow and winter sports, you could go to some ski resorts, near the city, the main resort of Asturias is Valgrande-Pajares

Marina panoramic view, at the bottom of picture is Cimadevilla district.
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Marina panoramic view, at the bottom of picture is Cimadevilla district.


[edit] External links

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