Gijón or Xixón is a city and municipality in north-western Spain. It is the largest city and municipality by population in the autonomous community of Asturias. It is located on the coast of the Cantabrian Sea in the Bay of Biscay, in the central-northern part of Asturias; it is approximately 24 km north-east of Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, and 26 km from Avilés. With a population of 271,780, Gijón is the 15th largest city in Spain.