Beach of San Lorenzo, Gijón

Latitude: 43.5422020 Length: -5.6571865
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Bustling when the weather allows it; and that even in the harsh winter months, the Wall continues to be a benchmark for walks, contemplation, physical training, as well as for bathers and surfers.

The bustle of this great urban beach never lets your guard down.

Stretching 1.550 meters in length and shaped like a shell, this is one of the most iconic beaches in the Principality of Asturias. An aerial view reveals that Gijón Bay is bisected by Santa Catalina Hill , an ancient Roman settlement upon which the Cimadevilla fishing district is built . On one side of the hill lies San Lorenzo Beach, extending to La Providencia Hill, while on the other are the two ports—the marina and the commercial port—and the newer beaches: Poniente Beach and Arbeyal Beach . Poniente Beach was created near the marina, specifically in the urban area known as El Fomento, encroaching on a former shipyard site and also extending for approximately 1.500 meters.

Poniente Beach

Artificial and urban , Poniente is a young beach, created in the mid-90s on the western side… Read more

Beach of the Arbeyal

El Arbeyal beach is the third most important beach in Gijón, bordering the popular neighborhoods of … Read more

At the eastern end of San Lorenzo, we see that the seafront promenade continues beyond the beach itself; this is the well-known Cervigón coastal path , a seaside route of more than 2 kilometers that brings us closer to other beaches such as Rinconín and Peñarrubia. This grand promenade is a kind of culmination to the vibrant maritime character of San Lorenzo.

Coastal path of the Cervigón

Gijón has many small squares and plazas, ideal for sitting and reading the newspaper or… Read more

The beach is the great amphitheater of Gijón's history. The Romans passed through it, it was a battlefield in almost all ancient times, a playground for Jovellanos' childhood (his birthplace is located near the Cimadevilla neighborhood), and an area of ​​expansion for a city that borrowed most of the sandy area for the sake of urban development.

The history of the beach during the 20th century cannot be separated from the growth of the city . The relentless action of the sea, which crashed openly against Gijón, and the sand prevented urban expansion to the southeast. Jovellanos himself was a visionary in this regard. The Enlightenment thinker, who enjoyed frequent walks along the Gijón coastline, had proposed the construction of the seawall to the city council and played a decisive role in its realization. The works, however, were not completed until the first decade of the 20th century. In 1933, the monumental staircase providing access to the beach, known as the Escalerona , was built to solve the problems posed by the massive influx of people onto the sand. Bathing had become fashionable since the end of the 19th century, and several spas existed in this area.

Gijón currently stretches right to the sea with large buildings. These tall buildings might seem bothersome or unsightly to some, but upon closer inspection, they aren't so bad. Gijón's beachfront urban development, despite its grandeur, isn't excessive or jarring. However, various corrective solutions are being considered for this grand gateway to the Cantabrian Sea. The idea is a comprehensive renovation , aiming to homogenize the appearance of the facades as much as possible and to invest time and money in a project that is both feasible and compatible with the city's future needs.

Today, this seaside promenade in Gijón boasts a multitude of shops, restaurants, bars, and taverns where you can savor local products and cuisine. It's a hub for leisure and culture, with museums and art galleries nearby. Furthermore, San Lorenzo is a major thoroughfare, providing a pleasant and easy connection between the two ends of the city center. Its numbered staircases are also a popular spot for locals to spend their free time. Meeting up on this or that staircase is a common occurrence. Meeting in San Lorenzo is a great way to connect on the first try, as well as an excellent starting point for exploring the city.