After exploring the city of Gijón, Spain earlier in the week, We headed out of the downtown area on our last day to check. We went to a Franco-era university campus, a tower with a view, a museum about Asturian life, and a surprise street-food detour. Here’s how it went.
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Morning: Universidad Laboral (Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura)
We started the day at the Universidad Laboral, a huge campus just east of the city center. It’s easy to reach by bus, and we’d been using Gijón’s buses all week, so it felt natural to hop on again.
The Universidad Laboral no longer functions as a university in the traditional sense. Part of the campus is still used by a university, and the site hosts other cultural activities, which is why you’ll also see it called Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura. What you’ll see is a massive stone complex built during the Franco era. The scale was part of the point: building a modern school like this was a statement of the regime’s power, and you feel that as you walk around it.
The tower is the main event. The campus has a large chapel (above) and a tower you can climb, and taking the elevator up is one of the best things to do here. From the top you can see across the whole area, including spots we’d already explored over the previous couple of days (left). Seeing a trip laid out below you is a great way to wrap it up.
Don’t skip the café. Upstairs, it’s bright and modern, with big windows and great art. Downstairs is a lovely patio that had live music when we visited. We only spent a couple of hours at the campus, but it was a relaxing way to start the day.
Tip: Right across from the Universidad Laboral is the botanical garden (Jardín Botánico Atlántico). We didn’t have time to go, but the two are within walking distance, so you can easily combine them.
Afternoon: Muséu del Pueblu d’Asturies
After the campus, we headed back into the city for the Muséu del Pueblu d’Asturies, which English-language sources call the Museum of the Asturian People. It’s an outdoor museum, a bit like an anthropology museum you can stroll through, with traditional constructions that tell the story of Asturias from ancient times to the present.
You’ll see plenty of hórreos, the raised granaries that are a signature of Asturian architecture (above), along with other buildings that show how people lived. It’s a pleasant, walkable stop, and a good one for anyone who likes to understand the culture behind a place and not just its beaches and restaurants.
A Delicious Detour: Stumbling into FIDMA
This was our favorite surprise of the day. While we were at the museum, we kept catching the smell of amazing food. We spotted what looked like a car dealership beyond one wall and wondered what was going on over there.
When we finished at the museum, we walked through a gate and found ourselves in the middle of a fair full of food stands. We had no idea where we were.
It turned out to be FIDMA, the big fair Gijón holds every August. It’s part trade show, part festival, with cars, furniture, and just about anything else you might want to buy. We couldn’t tell if some of the stalls were selling generators.
We stuck with the food:
- Sausages. One of us had a sausage in a bun, and the other had theirs cut up with french fries. We think it may have been chistorra, and either way it was excellent.
- Canned tinto de verano. Yes, from a can, and yes, it was good. We’d been enjoying this refreshing Spanish summer drink all trip.
- Ice cream on the way out, while we wondered what we’d just walked through.
If you want to visit FIDMA, check the dates and ticket prices ahead of time, since it only runs in August.
Quick Tips for This Gijón Itinerary
- Getting around: Use the bus to reach the Universidad Laboral.
- Time needed: Allow a couple of hours for the Universidad Laboral, longer if you add the botanical garden.
- Best for: History lovers, architecture fans, and travelers who like a mix of culture and food.
- Timing: Visit in August if you want to catch FIDMA, but check the admission details first.
Thanks for stopping by! Check out our Go See Do Explore Podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts. To read about some of our previous trips, visit my Trips Page. If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram! For my list of gadgets to make your travels easier, click here.
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