Resident Nihil. Avilés Resurrection. (I)

CHAPTER ONE. A FIRST APPROACH.

Avilés is the 3rd city in Asturias, with 80,000 inhabitants it plays the role of the last and ugly sister compared to its elder sisters: Oviedo and Gijón.

Oviedo, birthplace of the Asturian Kings in IX century, has always been a place related to culture and noble families, a cosmopolitan city that used to have many high standing visitors. Of course, the Prince of Asturias Awards have contributed in a huge way to that perception nowadays.

Fundación Prícipe de Asturias

Gijón evolved from a peaceful coastal village to a demanded destiny for tourists who looked for its beaches and nocturnal life.

Avilés, on the contrary, raised from a tiny fishermans village to a prosperous industrial city in XX century, when Ensidesa adpated the existing ria by building new docks to give course to its products in the 50s decade. Soon other big industries colonized the surrounding area, mostly in the right margin of the river.