GIGLIO (anc. Igilium)

This article appears in Volume V12, Page 6 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

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GIGLIO (anc. Igilium) , an island of Italy, off the S.W. coast of Italy, in the province of Grosseto, 11 m. to the W. of Monte Argentario, the nearest point on the coast. It measures about 5 M. by 3 and its highest point is 1634 ft. above sea-level. Pop. (1901) 2062. It is partly composed of granite, which was quarried here by the Romans, and is still used; the island is fertile, and produces wine and fruit, the cultivation of which has taken the place of the forests of which Rutilius spoke (Itin. i. 325, " eminus Igilii silvosa cacumina miror "). Julius Caesar mentions its sailors in the

fleet

FLEET

of Domitius Ahenobarbus. In Rutilius's time it served as a place of

refuge

REFUGE

from the barbarian invaders. Charlemagne gave it to the abbey of Tre Fontane at Rome. In the 14th century it belonged to Pisa, then to Florence,
then, after being seized by the Spanish

fleet

FLEET

, it was ceded to Antonio Piccolomini, nephew of Pius II. In 1558 it was sold to the wife of Cosimo I. of Florence.
See Archduke Ludwig Salvator, Die Insel Giglio (Prague, 1900). GIJON, a seaport of northern Spain, in the province of Oviedo; on the Bay of Biscay, and at the terminus of railways from Aviles, Oviedo and Langreo. Pop. (Igoo) 47,544 The older parts of Gijon, which are partly enclosed by ancient walls, occupy the upper slopes of a peninsular headland, Santa Catalina Point; while its more modern suburbs extend along the shore to Cape Torres, on the west, and Cape San Lorenzo, on the east. These suburbs contain the town-

hall

, theatre, markets, and abull-ring with seats for 12,000 spectators. Few of the buildings of Gijon are noteworthy for any architectural merit, except perhaps the 15th-century parish church of San Pedro, which has a triple row of aisles on each side, the palace of the marquesses of Revillajigedo (or Revilla Gigedo), and the Asturian Institute or Jovellanos Institute. The last named has a very fine collection of drawings by Spanish and other artists, a good library and classes for instruction in seamanship, mathematics and languages. It was founded in 1797 by the poet and states-man Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos (1744-1811). Jovellanos, a native of Gijon, is buried in San Pedro.
The Bay of Gijon is the most important roadstead on the Spanish coast between Ferrol and

Santander

. Its first quay was constructed by means of a grant from Charles V. in 15521554; and its arsenal, added in the reign of Philip II. (1556-1598), was used in 1588 as a repairing station for the surviving ships of the Invincible Armada. A new quay was built in 1766-1768, and extended in 1859; the harbour was further improved in 1864, and after 1892, when the Musel harbour of

refuge

REFUGE

was created at the extremity of the bay. It was, how-ever, the

establishment

ESTABLISHMENT (0. Fr. establissement, Fr. etablissement,
late
- LATE
Norm. Fr. establishement, from O. Fr. establir, Fr. etablir, Lat. stabilire, to make stable)

of railway communication in 1884 which brought the town its modern prosperity, by rendering it the

chief

CHIEF (from Fr. chef, head, Lat. caput)

port of shipment for the products of Langreo and other mining centres in Oviedo. ' A rapid commercial development followed. Besides large tobacco, glass and

porcelain

PORCELAIN

factories, Gijon possesses iron foundries and petroleum refineries; while its minor industries include fisheries, and the manufacture of pre-served foods, soap, chocolate, candles and liqueurs. In 1903 the harbour accommodated 2189 vessels of 358,375 tons. In the same year the imports, consisting chiefly of machinery, iron,

wood

and food-stuffs, were valued at 660,889; while the exports, comprising zinc, copper, iron and other minerals, with fish, nuts and farm produce, were valued at 100,941.
Gijon is usually identified with the Gigia of the Romans, which, however, occupied the site of the adjoining suburb of Cima de Villa. Early in the 8th century Gijon was captured and strengthened by the Moors, who used the stones of the Roman city for their fortifications, but were expelled by King Pelayo' (720-737). In 844 Gijon successfully resisted a Norman raid; in 1395 it was burned down; but thenceforward it gradually rose to commercial importance.

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