Ruta de la Plata

Gijón presents its visitors with a double-faceted array of handcrafts: on the one hand, traditional and/or folk crafts which draw from a heritage still alive amongst us and, on the other, crafts which give birth to a product of innovative aesthetic value, the fruit of experimentation and new ideas.

The following handcrafts may be purchased in Gijón:

• Jet: a shiny, black, semi-precious stone with a millenial tradition in Asturias, jet quarry par excellence. 
• Ceramics: from the most traditional in Asturias, like the black ceramics from Llamas de Mouro, to pieces done in novel techniques, responding to new aesthetic needs. 
• Leather: handcrafted leather pieces, beautiful and practical for both personal use and home decoration. 
• Musical instruments: the bagpipe, king of the regional instruments, is the fruit of the work of Gijóns instrument-makers, along with others like the hurdy-gurdy, the rebec, the accordeon or the recorder. 
• Jewellery: exclusive designs in constant search of new aesthetic solutions, without leaving behind traditional motifs and techniques, carried out in original precious stones from Asturias. 
• Textiles: clothing, both modern and traditional, and items for the home or decoration, all based on a rich tradition using the classic textures of linen and wool while adding new elements. 
• Other handcrafts: fishing gear and crafts using materials and techniques like bamboo, cast bronze, hewn stone, glass, dried flowers, bookbinding, engraving or restoration.