Tobacco

The building has its origin in 1670, when the convent was founded for the congregation of Augustinian Recollects, the first monastery in the city and also©a school for girls±. It was completed in 1679, and the church was built in 1684, all under the order of the master stonemasons Ignacio de Palacio and Juan San Miguel. In 1733 expansion works were carried out. In 1842, after its confiscation, the convent was transformed into a tobacco factory, so it became known as ‘La Tabacalera’. It was the first important industry in Gijón and its workforce was made up of women. Its activity lasted from the mid-nineteenth century until 2002. The Old Tobacco Factory is one of the few examples in Asturias of the reuse of a religious building for industrial use.