Gijón.

Gijón sits on the Cantabrian coast of Asturias, built around a working harbour that has shaped the city for centuries. The old fishing quarter, Cimavilla, climbs a headland above the port, its narrow streets holding onto the city's maritime past. Below, San Lorenzo beach curves along the bay, backed by a long promenade used by locals through the year. Remains of Roman baths sit near the beach, a quiet marker of how long people have settled here.

Cider is central to local life: sidrerías across the city pour it the traditional way, held high above the glass to aerate it before drinking. Asturian cooking draws on the coast and the green hills behind it — fish landed that morning and the region's bean stews. The Jardín Botánico Atlántico, laid out along a river on the edge of the city, traces plant life from across the wider Atlantic region. The city's industrial past is still visible in old shipyards and warehouses, many now given new uses.