Gijón / Xixón

Gijón (or Xixón in Asturian) is a port and metropolis in Asturias on the north coast of Spain. With a population of 270,000 in 2024, it's mostly modern but has an attractive old centre and many cultural attractions. Until the 18th century Gijón was a small harbour village on the neck of a peninsula. It expanded as maritime trade grew, on a grid devised by Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, but the big expansion was with the steel industry of the 19th century. The ports along the north coast of Spain became mirror-images of those of south Wales, exchanging Spanish iron ore for Welsh coal, so both adopted smoke-stack heavy industry. Steel and related manufacture collapsed in the late 20th century and Gijón perforce transitioned into service and public sector employment. The Picos de Europa mountains are no great barrier to modern highway construction, but historically they isolated Asturias from the rest of Spain. They draw the clouds and rain, so even Gijón down on the coast has cool wet summers and weary winters. It has several good beaches but the waters of the Bay of Biscay are cool and sometimes storm-tossed. Gijón nudists would deserve a medal for fortitude if only there was somewhere to attach it. Infogijón is the tourist office, on the waterfront west side of the peninsula, open daily 10:00-14:30, 16:00-19:30. The same website has information on other city services including transport.

© wikipedia

Gijón / Xixón is the starting point of Gijon to Santiago in 15 days and it’s a stopover point on Irun to Santiago de Compostela and From Bilbao to Santiago in one month. You can reach Santiago de Compostela in 16 days.