Gijón

Gijón, city and seaport in north-west Spain, in Asturias Province, on the Bay of Biscay near the city of Oviedo. Coal, copper, iron, zinc, and other minerals, as well as fish and agricultural produce, are all exported from Gijón. Industrial establishments in the city include foundries, textile and paper mills, oil and sugar refineries, and tobacco, chemical, glass, and porcelain factories. Gijón is thought to be the ancient Roman town of Gigia. It was captured by the Moors in the early 8th century; later in the same century, however, it became one of the first cities to be reconquered by Christian forces. It was destroyed by fire in 1395. During the Spanish Civil War the capture of the city by the Nationalists in October 1937 put an end to the fighting in north-west Spain. Gijón has the most important trunk road on the northern Spanish coast between the ports of Santander on the east, and Ferrol to the west. The construction of the port was begun in 1480; it was fortified in the latter half of the 16th century, and in 1788 it was enlarged to cope with the West Indian trade. Population 274,472 (2006 estimate).