Gijón Del Alma: 5 Landscapes You Can’t Miss In Asturias

Get lost in Cimadevilla

The best way to enjoy a route? Getting lost!

The first landscape you should see is the one visible from the oldest neighbourhood of the city, Cimadevilla, facing the port. Once principally inhabited by sailors, it is placed on the peninsula of St. Catalina, the highest zone of Gijón. Here you will find the most ancient monuments and edifices, like the Revillagigedo Palace, the Ancient Municipal Fish Market and the statue of the famous King Pelayo, which get along with the modern style of the other buildings.

Go for a walk and don’t be afraid to get lost through the pedestrian narrow streets, where you can find the most animate atmosphere, and take a break in one of the several bars that offer the typical Asturian cider, served in a very original way.

Go up to the Elogio del Horizonte and listen to the sound of the wind

Climbing further into the St. Catalina area, you will have the possibility to admire the second incredible landscape I want to introduce today in the Cerro park (Parque del Cerro), where rises the most monumental sculpture of the city: the colossal Elogio del Horizonte. Made with reinforced concrete by Eduardo Chillida in 1990, the monument reaches 10 metres high and 500 tons. The shape is semicircular, so that it’s possible to stand inside and listen to the “music of the wind” that always blows along the coast. An unmatched experience! Actually, you can find the twin structure of Elogio del Horizonte in Barcelona, built by the same artist.

Stroll on the sand along San Lorenzo beach, and try windsurfing!

Because of its fine and golden sand, San Lorenzo beach is known as one of the most representative of Asturias’ landscapes. The cathedral of St. Peter stands out on the left side and it’s often used as a perfect set for traditional weddings with typical clothes.

The beach seems the ideal place to stroll and even to sunbathe during the hottest summer days, but it could also encourage you to try unconventional sports, like windsurfing, sea-kayaking or simple surfing. It’s always possible to rent a surfboard and a wetsuit at the shop, or signing up for a course.

Walk (or run) by the Wall of San Lorenzo and enjoy an incredible view

By the eastern limit of the beach of San Lorenzo, you can see the walk of “Muro” (Wall) which is longer than the beach itself. This is the coastal Walk of Cervigón. It is more than two kilometres long and leads to the beaches of Rinconín and Peñarrubia.

In your route you could cross the Park of Rinconín, an ideal place for your spare time, where getting relaxed sitting down the shadow of a tree or enjoying a unique artistic panorama that counts with numerous and big sculptures. One of the most loved works by the inhabitants is the monument to the Emigrants’ Mother. This piece is placed in a rounded square facing the sea, representing the pain of a mother that cries for the emigration of her children, due to the large number of Asturians who left their land in times of crisis to go in search of a better life.

Eat popcorn in the “autocine” (drive-in cinema)

Last but not least, the unconventional landscape that you can’t miss once in Gijón is the one visible from the drive-in cinema, on the screen or outside the window (because the location is on the top of a hill, 4 kilometres far from the city centre)! Known as the unique drive-in cinema of Northern Spain, the Gijón Autocine remains open every day of the year, thanks to a roofing that allows a good vision even when it rains. The movie titles are changed weekly, and the cheapness of the ticket -10.00 EUR (approximately 11 USD)- attracts numerous groups of friends.

The outdoor venue, with a capacity of 200 cars, spreads out like a small village settled by little houses and colourful shops where it’s offered food recently made. Starting from the classical popcorn or hamburgers to combined dishes and typical beverages (cider included), everything is sold for such a good price.