Spain and Portugal for Visitors

The third-largest (i.e., small) city in Asturias. It is still an industrial city, though less oppressively so than in the past, but the historic centre of Avilés has charm and the place is a good jumping-off point to visit Asturias, including the Picos de Europa. This municipal website is fine, but the "Welcome" link leads to a dead end, and all other traces of English-language tourist information have disappeared.

The area around Avilés, is most attractive, especially its coast, dunes and beaches. The Asturian hinterland is also appealing, though the traces of industry are rarely far away - the Trasona reservoir, now mainly used for water sports, was originally built by a steel company, and La Furta wetlands are adjacent to the DuPont complex in Nubledo. Don't let that put you off, it is an area well worth visiting (and easy to visit, Asturias Airport being only 15 km from Avilés). The website linked to seems to have supplanted the municipal site for tourist information.

Cabo Peñas (great name, "Cape Crags") is actually only slightly closer to Avilés than to Gijón, being the bit between them that sticks up into the Cantabrian Sea on the map. There are two boroughs, Carreño, the "capital" of which is Candás, and Gozón, capital Luanco.