GIJON, a seaport of northern Spain, province of Oviedo ; on the Bay of Biscay, and the terminus of railways from Aviles, Oviedo and Langreo. Pop. (193o), 78,239. The older parts of Gijon occupy the slopes of a rocky peninsula, Santa Catalina point, while its more modern suburbs extend east and west along the shore. The town contains few buildings of architectural interest beyond the 15th century parish church of San Pedro, with its triple rows of aisles and the Jovellanos Nautical and Technical institute, which contains a fine collection of drawings. This insti tute was founded in 1797 by Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos (1744-1811), the poet and statesman, a native of Gijon, who is buried in San Pedro church.
A stretch of sandy beach east of the peninsula has made this the bathing quarter of the town. Westward, to Cape Torres extends the Bay of Gijon, the most important roadstead on the Spanish coast between Ferrol and Santander. The construction of a commercial port at Gijon was begun with a royal grant in 1480. An arsenal was added in the reign of Philip II. (15S6 98), and to this the remnant of the Invincible Armada returned for repairs in 1588. In 1778 the port was equipped for trade with the West Indies. Its modern prosperity, however, dates from 1884, when railway communication was established with Langreo and other Asturian mining districts. In 1892 the harbour of Musel, at the western end of the bay, was constructed. At the eastern end, protected by Santa Catalina and two moles, lie the outer and two inner harbours of Gijon proper.
Gijon is usually identified with the Roman Gigia, captured by the Moors early in the 8th century; it was one of the first cities to be retaken by King Petayo (720-737). In 844 Gijon success fully resisted a Norman raid; in it was burned down, and in the 16th and 17th centuries it suffered many attacks by corsairs. From the middle of the 17th century, however, it gradually rose to commercial importance.
Coasting, as well as foreign trade, is considerable. Gijon is also an important industrial centre, with iron, copper and bronze foundries, petroleum refineries, large tobacco, glass, sugar and porcelain factories, and chemical, preserved food, paper, candle and cloth-making works. Coal is the main export, others being iron, zinc and copper ores, apples, nuts, butter, cider and fish. The chief imports are timber, machinery, petroleum, superphos phate and foodstuffs.