Asturias Tourist Guide 2018

30

Come home to Paradise

Gijón/Xixón has become modern and lively city, largely due to its history as a city right on the edge of the sea, with a port with large amount of economic activity.

If your trip to Gijón/Xixón coincides with the last two weeks of November, you will be able to enjoy the varied programme of events that the International Film Festival has to offer. The Black Week takes place in July, a crime novel contest that has been running for nearly three decades. Whatever the season, you must not miss losing yourself in the bohemian fishing neighbourhood of Cimavilla and in La Ruta, not forgetting the rural belt with its must-see cider presses. As soon as you arrive in Oviedo, you will get a feel of this classic and stately metropolis, the setting described by Leopoldo Alas Clarín in La Regenta, a model city perfect for walking around, which has been imitated by many others. Looking over the fairy tale like old quarter, is the Cathedral, with a Holy Chamber in which treasures from the period of Alfonso II El Casto, King of Asturias, are kept. Its Roman remains are another feature of its past, as well as the proud contribution to the Enlightenment made by Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos.

GijónMarina

The classics scholar Mary Beard published an article in The Times in which she compared her visit to Oviedo for the 2016 award ceremony with being “on cloud nine”. The capital of the Principality is also its administrative centre and a bustling commercial hub, with extraordinary buildings of great architectural value. The three cities are also regular hosts of congresses and business tourism, with three organisations that works towards attracting these events. In the horizon of Oviedo stands Santiago Calatrava’s Congress Palace and the Prince Philip Auditorium. Gijón has the biggest Convention Centre in the region, known as Luis Adaro and the impressive Laboral City of Culture, as well as other urban facilities. Avilés has the flagship Niemeyer building, as well as the La Magdalena Convention Centre and the House of Culture. walking down the blue carpet many states people, scientists and artists from around the world. This kingdom is now home to the Princess of Asturias Awards,

Oviedo Centre

More information at: asturiastourism.co.uk/AsturianCities