Asturian Coast: Aviles and Gijon

From A Coruna, we started to head east for our eventual BCN-SFO flight. Having visited inland Asturias previously, we decided to have a look on the coast. We chose Aviles, situated deep in an inlet and the third largest city Austrias, as our base. Being in Aviles during the week, it seems a rather relaxed, laid back place, with many sidrerías (cider pubs). Much of the historic center is rooted in the New World. The conquistador founder of Florida, Pedro Menendez, is from Aviles.

From Aviles, we took the meter gauge train, feve, for day trips. The train didn't have much business; during an hour-long journey there would be fewer than ten passengers. I wondered how long Renfe will continue the service. I am envious of the rural communities along the line. They are much less dense than where we live in Raleigh. When the train came in the 1800s, I imagine these communities didn't even have roads.

One of the day trips from Aviles was east to Gijon, the largest city in Asturias. Gijon was already a population center during Roman times, and kept up its pace of development, including a dozen or so Modernismo buildings in the center, from the last century.

Another day we headed the opposite direction to Cudillero, a "scenic" village right on the Atlantic Ocean. Stay tuned for that post.

The Plaza Mayor in Aviles has a laid back atmosphere, day and night.

Arcades and sidrerías emanate from the Plaza.

A park in the city center has a traditional granary of the type found in northern Spain and Portugal, and which still dot the countryside in these parts.

We made two day trips from the feve train station. Each day I admired the old warehouses next to the station, and there is a string of factories along the train line between Aviles and Gijon.

On our first full day in Aviles we made a day trip to Gijon. In this photo I'm standing in front of the yacht basin that is next to the Old Town

The Old Town is on a once fortified headland, surrounded by the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Roman Thermal Baths are very cool, next to the water, and more or less under the Church of San Pedro (far right below).

A few Moderismo buildings.





My fav was this one with a sole caryatid.

There were also a few very nice Art Deco buildings, among them this Streamline gem.

One with a ziggurat tower, and floral motifs.

And one with Socialist Realism reliefs. Cool!

We visited several art museums in Gijon, full of scenes of working folks and the sea.

This one by native Nicanor Piñole.

The feve train at Gijon station waiting to take us back to Aviles.