Gijón · Asturias
Cimavilla: Gijón’s historic maritime quarter
Streets, squares and working lives beside San Lorenzo
Open location in Google MapsExplore the place
Cimavilla, also written Cimadevilla, is Gijón’s upper old quarter. Its interest lies in the streets connecting the beach, squares and harbour, rather than in one monument. Fishermen, craftspeople, soldiers and women working in the tobacco industry all form part of its history.
Visit tips
- Use the western end of San Lorenzo and San Pedro as your starting references.
- The official route includes narrow, steep streets. Check a specific route if you need to avoid steps or slopes.
- Treat a walk through public streets separately from visits inside museums, churches and other buildings.
Highlights
- Plaza de Jovellanos and its heritage setting.
- Plaza del Lavaderu, officially Plaza Periodista Arturo Arias.
- The history of tobacco workers and the former Tabacalera.
- Plaza del Marqués and the connection with the marina.
About this place
The city’s cultural accounts place much of Gijón’s maritime and social history in this quarter. People born here are known as playos. Municipal routes connect the San Pedro area with the inner squares and harbour, making this a cultural walk with a different purpose from a beach visit.
Basic information
- Place
- Cimavilla / Cimadevilla, Gijón, Asturias
- Visit type
- Historic quarter and urban walk
- San Lorenzo connection
- Via the San Pedro area
- Indoor venues
- Separate opening and admission conditions
Getting here
On foot, use San Pedro and Campo Valdés to connect San Lorenzo with the quarter. From elsewhere in Gijón, calculate a route to your first stop. Check current municipal information for public transport and driving restrictions; access by car should not be assumed throughout the streets.
What makes it worth visiting
A quarter shaped by work
Fishing, crafts and tobacco work are all part of the local story. The former Tabacalera, previously a convent, helps explain the role of women’s paid work in the neighbourhood. The exterior setting of the former Tabacalera offers a way to recognise this history during your walk; check access conditions if you want to visit an interior.
Different squares, different stories
Jovellanos, Lavaderu and Marqués give the walk three clear reference points. Beside Marqués, Revillagigedo Palace is Baroque despite the medieval appearance of its towers. Looking for these differences makes the walk more meaningful than treating every façade as the same kind of heritage.
Suggested sequence
- From San Pedro, enter Campo Valdés and decide whether to visit the Roman baths museum first.
- Continue towards Plaza de Jovellanos, then find Plaza del Lavaderu for another part of the quarter’s social history.
- Choose between the Santa Catalina hill or Plaza del Marqués and the marina.
Before you go
- This is a residential neighbourhood: leave room in narrow streets and respect privacy when photographing homes.
- Adapt the stops to your interests and the group’s mobility, checking current access and restrictions.
Photography
Jovellanos and Marqués squares offer different urban scales and architectural details. Photograph from public space without blocking entrances or assuming permission to enter buildings.
Where to stay
If the historic walk is your priority, compare central Gijón and the Cimavilla area with accommodation along San Lorenzo. Before booking, check luggage access, slopes along your route and noise that might affect your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Are Cimavilla and Cimadevilla different places?
No. Both names refer to Gijón’s upper old quarter.
Can I combine it with San Lorenzo?
Yes. The municipal cultural route uses San Pedro as a reference and links the quarter with the waterfront. The baths and the hill have separate guides to help you choose further stops.
Is there one opening time or ticket?
Plan any museums, churches and activities separately from your walk through the streets: each venue has its own opening times and admission conditions.
Address and map
Cimavilla, Gijón, Asturias, Spain
Open location in Google MapsSources and editorial review
Reviewed by the Playa de San Lorenzo editorial team · 10 November 2026