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Why |
The city of Gijón has festivals throughout the year: Antroxu (Carnival), Semana Negra, the International Film Festival, Asturias Day on the first Sunday in August, and many concerts and exhibitions. The city offers an attractive combination of seafaring flavour, heritage buildings and modern urban development behind the beach. The historic quarter of Gijón is formed by the hill of Santa Catalina and the fishing neighbourhood of Cimadevilla. The streets between the beach of San Lorenzo and the marina gather together Roman remains, large mansions and the old houses of the fishermen. In the old town there are many interesting monuments and sites. The modern city has a rationalist layout with a great many squares and green areas such as the Gardens of Náutico, Begoña or Reina. It is worth taking a look at the shops in Calle Corrida, the old cafés and cider bars of Paseo Begoña or taking Calle Uría y Menéndez Valdés to the Jovellanos Theatre. Gijón's position on the Costa Verde, halfway between western and eastern Asturias, makes it an ideal starting point for touring the coast and inland. The eastern coast offers extensive beaches, with historic towns of Ribadesella and Llanes, and the little fishing villages of Lastres and Tazones. There are also prehistoric sites like the caves of Tito Bustillo. For hikers and nature lovers, the Picos de Europa National Park is located in this region. |