Barrio de Cimadevilla

Updated April 15, 2024

## Barrio de Cimadevilla, Gijón: the Old Town on the Sea

Gijón’s historic heart sits on the Santa Catalina headland between the marina and San Lorenzo Bay. Known locally as Cimavilla/Cimadevilla, it’s the city’s oldest neighborhood and a compact open-air history lesson: Roman archaeology, medieval traces, Asturian Baroque, and a monumental 20th-century sculpture crowning wind-exposed cliffs over the Cantabrian Sea.

### Quick orientation
– Where it is: the peninsula of Santa Catalina, between Gijón’s sports marina and Playa de San Lorenzo; the Plaza Mayor and City Hall sit at the hinge of the old town.
– Streetscape: narrow cobbled lanes, small squares, and traditional fishermen’s houses—characteristic of the city’s former seafaring quarter.
– Why it matters: this is the historic core where Roman remains, a major Baroque palace, and the city’s emblematic modern artwork coexist within a walkable kilometer. de Gijón

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## What to See in Cimadevilla

### 1) Cerro de Santa Catalina & Elogio del Horizonte
Climb (or roll via park paths) to Cerro de Santa Catalina, a former coastal fortification converted into a public park. At its highest point stands Eduardo Chillida’s Elogio del Horizonte (1989–1990), a monumental concrete work that frames sea and sky and has become a symbol of Gijón. The sculpture occupies the site of a once-restricted military zone that was opened to the public as parkland in the late 20th century. Views sweep across the bay and city.

Why go: beyond the panorama, the work’s acoustics are part of the experience—its curved forms “embrace” the horizon and channel the wind. (Local sources and guides consistently highlight its status and setting on the cliff-edge headland.)

Tip: terrain here is exposed and open; conditions can change quickly on the headland. Plan layers and stable footwear for the grassy, uneven sections of the park. (General visitor guidance from local write-ups emphasizes the clifftop, open setting.)

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### 2) Termas Romanas de Campo Valdés (Roman Baths)
Beneath street level near Iglesia de San Pedro and San Lorenzo Bay lie the Roman Baths of Campo Valdés, the city’s most significant urban archaeological site. Excavations reveal a classic sequence of cold, warm, and hot rooms (with hypocaust heating) integrated into the Roman wall system that once protected ancient Gigia. The museum opened in 1995 and anchors Cimadevilla’s Roman itinerary. de Gijón

Why go: it’s the clearest window into Gijón’s early urban story—and the setting, a few steps from the surf, brings Roman daily life startlingly close. de Gijón

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### 3) Palacio de Revillagigedo & Collegiate Church of San Juan
At Plaza del Marqués, beside the marina, rises the 18th-century Baroque Revillagigedo Palace, built over a medieval tower by the Marquis of San Esteban del Mar de Natahoyo. Today it anchors the square and houses an art center; the Collegiata de San Juan Bautista adjoins the palace. This ensemble is among Gijón’s most photographed façades.

Why go: it’s Cimadevilla’s textbook Baroque moment and the architectural foil to the quarter’s humbler seafaring houses.

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### 4) Casa Natal de Jovellanos (Jovellanos Birthplace Museum)
In Plaza de Jovellanos sits the 16th–18th-century mansion where Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos—Gijón’s Enlightenment polymath—was born. The museum presents art collections and materials tied to his life and to the city. de Gijón

Why go: it contextualizes Gijón’s civic identity and intellectual heritage within the very streets that shaped it. The square itself is a lively, pedestrianized node in the old town.

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### 5) Plaza Mayor & the Marina Front
The Plaza Mayor marks the transition between the modern city and the old headland; City Hall faces arcades that often host cultural events. A short stroll reaches the sports marina and Plaza del Marqués, the jumping-off point for a classic Cimadevilla loop.

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## Suggested 90-Minute Walking Loop

1) Start: Plaza Mayor → 2) Plaza del Marqués (Revillagigedo + collegiate church) → 3) Cuesta del Cholo (traditional sidra hangout at day’s end) → 4) Cerro de Santa Catalina for the Elogio del Horizonte and views → 5) descend past Atalaya/cannon points to Iglesia de San Pedro → 6) finish at Termas Romanas de Campo Valdés by the bay.

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## Practical Notes

### Accessibility & surfaces
– City-wide: Gijón promotes barrier-free travel with step-free walkways in many public areas and beaches. de Gijón
– Cimadevilla reality check: as a preserved historic quarter, sections of Cimadevilla include cobblestones and slopes; plan routes via the marina-side entrances for gentler grades and use park paths on Santa Catalina. (Multiple visitor sources characterize the area’s cobbled streets and the uphill approach to the headland.)

### When to go
– Golden hour on Cerro de Santa Catalina is the signature moment for skyline and bay views in clear weather. (Local guides consistently recommend the headland for vistas.)

### Eat & drink
– The old town is dotted with sidrerías (cider taverns) and small bars—particularly around Cuesta del Cholo and the marina edges—reflecting Asturias’ cider culture. (Cultural note; area listings frequently highlight these zones.)

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## Need-to-Know Landmarks at a Glance

– Elogio del Horizonte (1989–1990), Eduardo Chillida — concrete, ~10 m high; emblematic of Gijón; sited on Santa Catalina headland (former military zone turned park).
– Termas Romanas de Campo Valdés — subterranean museum; core Roman site in the old town; museum inaugurated 1995. de Gijón
– Palacio de Revillagigedo — 18th-century Asturian Baroque palace over medieval tower; adjoins San Juan Bautista collegiate church; prominent city landmark.
– Casa Natal de Jovellanos — museum in the 16th–18th-century mansion where Jovellanos was born; located in Plaza de Jovellanos. de Gijón

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## Responsible Visit & Accuracy Notes
– Clifftop safety: the Santa Catalina headland is high and open above the sea; keep a prudent distance from edges and supervise children—standard guidance in local park write-ups.
– Data freshness: exhibition schedules and museum hours change; verify directly with the Gijón City Council museum pages before you go. (Official pages for Termas Romanas and Casa Natal are kept current.) de Gijón

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### Map pin for planning
– General coordinates for Cimadevilla headland: 43.5469, −5.6643 (central to the neighborhood on Santa Catalina).

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Fact sources: Official Gijón tourism pages (Roman Baths; accessibility), Spain’s national tourism portal (area orientation and landmarks), and reputable reference summaries for Elogio del Horizonte and key squares/sites. de Gijón

If you already publish guides to Gijón’s beaches or Asturias cider culture, link them contextually from the sections above to strengthen internal relevance and dwell time.

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