Real Instituto Jovellanos is the name of one of the oldest educational centres in Spain. It was created in Gijón by Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos as one of the enlightened projects he carried out in the Principality of Asturias. The idea of creating an educational centre to provide training in mining and seafaring arose in the midst of projects linked to the exploitation of the mines that were beginning to open in the coalfields of the Asturian mining basin, together with the construction of a road linking it to the port of Gijón.

In reports drawn up by the learned man, he mentioned the suitability of establishing an educational centre, as well as how it would be structured in terms of subjects, teachers, how the project would be financed, and the place where it would be located in Gijón (he was willing to cede a house, owned by the family). The idea was viewed favourably by the Council of State, as it was a way of making progress in coal mining in Asturias.

After the construction of the institute in Asturias was granted, the first problems about its location soon arose. Jovellanos argued that it should be in Gijón.

It was founded as the Royal Asturian Institute of Nautical and Mineralogy, as it has been mentioned that the main subjects (among others) were Nautical and Mineralogy because they were linked to the navy and mining, respectively. The building was provided by Jovellanos' brother, Francisco, which was the first headquarters of this institution.

In an Ordinance sent by Antonio Valdés setting out the decisions taken by King Charles IV of Spain, Francisco Jovellanos was appointed as director of the centre, as well as recommendations on the teachers and staff, and classes were scheduled to begin on 7 January 1794.

In addition to the initial educational purposes, Jovellanos hoped that one day, anyone who wanted to study outside mining and nautical studies in order to receive an education would be able to go to the institute and not necessarily to the University of Oviedo.

The building that was the second headquarters of the Jovellanos Institute has a square structure with a central inner courtyard and a height of three floors.

The foundation of the building dates back to 1797, when construction began, and the project was not completely finished until 1897. In 1796, Ramón Durán was chosen by Jovellanos as the project manager to begin work on a site donated by the town council to house the future headquarters of the institute. Durán's project was rejected due to financial problems, and in 1797 the project was entrusted to Juan de Villanueva.

In 1800, the project was halted due to financial problems. In 1807, the ground floor of the building was finally completed. During the War of Independence, the building was used as a barracks.

Finally, in 1885, the director Luciano García-Rendueles y Cofer entrusted Ricardo Marcos Bausá with the construction and completion of the Villanueva project. In 1897, the works were finally completed with numerous changes to Villanueva's design, which is why the current building can be considered the work of Bausá.

It currently houses the Fundación de Cultura and the Universidad Popular of Gijón City Council.

It has been declared a National Monument since 24 April 1974 and an Asset of Cultural Interest.