DONOSTIA - SAN SEBASTIAN

San Sebastián, capital of the province of Guipúzcoa, is one of Spain`s most beautiful cities. It is a modern city of wide streets, a great climate and it is located very near France. All these have made of San Sebastián one of the major touristic centres of Spain. Donosti (Basque name of the city) makes us recall the summers of the royal families as Queen Isabel II choose the Guipuzcoan capital as the summer residence for the royal family and subsequently the so called "Ministerio de Jornada" (summer government departments) also established its headquarters in the city for the summer.

First news of San Sebastián date back to the XIth century when Sancho el Mayor from Navarra gave the city to the Monastery of Leire. After 1821, when the city became Guipuzcoa`s capital and the Madrid-Paris train going through Irún started to work in 1864, is when the development and expansion of the city really started. This development made of San Sebastián what we know today as one of the most important capitals in Spain.

Places of interest

One of San Sebastián`s main attractives is the great beauty of the city in itself. Its magnificent buildings, the wonderful beach of La Concha, the Monte Igueldo (Mount), the Old Town and the recent Kursaal Congress Palace, of the architect Rafael Moneo, are a must.

From the Igueldo Amusement Park to Mount Ulía there are many different possibilities for those visiting San Sebastián. Some of them are to enjoy the beaches of Ondarreta and Gros, in addition to the marvellous beach of La Concha, to walk through the promenades that border the Bay of Biscay, to get to know the island of Santa Clara, the Aquarium, the port, the Old Town where you can visit some of the monuments and taste the delicious "pintxos", Mount Urgull, the Miramar Palace, royal summer family residence since it was built by order of Queen María Eugenia up to the Second republic, etc. Moreover, there are some cultural celebrations of great interest as the Jazz Festival that takes place every year in July, the International Film Festival (September), with beautiful seats like the María Cristina Hotel and the Reina Victoria Theatre, and to which important movie stars come every year as Bette Davis or Jean Moureau.

The Old Town centre of Donosti is where the beautiful Basílica de Santa María del Coro , the Temple of San Vicente and the San Telmo Museum, where you can enjoy paintings by Zuloaga, are located. On the opposite side of the city, at the end of the Ondarreta beach, Eduardo Chillida`s sculptoric ensemble "El peine de los vientos" (The comb of the winds) is found.

Tours around

Zarautz is one of Guipúzcoa`s main touristic centres since Queen Isabel II discovered its charms. Its beaches still have the canvas and and traditional bathing huts mantaining the aristocratic image since the XIXth century. The town has become very well known thanks to the free advertising it has been given by Karlos Argiñano, famous cook who owns a noteworthy restaurant here. Zarauz keeps beautiful buildings like the Templo Parroquial Santa María la Real (Church), Church of the Franciscanos, the Convent of Santa Clara, the Palace of Makazaga and the Town Hall, in a building of the XVIth century. The promenade that skirts Zarauz`s coast and that after the beach continues on to the Promenade of Getaria stands out.

Getaria is the town where Juan Sebastián Elcano and the famous designer Cristóbal Balenciaga were born. Balenciaga has been recently paid tribute to, in the hundredth anniversary of his birth, with the opening of the museum where his work is exhibited. The old town of this fishing village is located on a headland that links dry land with the island of San Antón known with the popular name of "the mouse of Getaria". Moreover, the old town is communicated to the Plaza Katrapona (Square) through a pasage under the church of San Salvador, where there is a crypt with the image of the Virgen del Carmen, patroness of all seamen. We cannot forget that the best grill house in the country is in Getaria, Asador Elkano, the best grilled fish.

Hondarribia is the Basque name for Fuenterrabia, an important touristic centre thanks to the four sectors of its population: farmers, seamen, townspeople and those who come for the summer. The buildings that stand out in this beautiful fishing village are the Church of Santa María de la Asunción y del Manzano, late Gothic style, and Carlos Vth`s Castle, small fort transformed into a state-run hotel. Because of its srategic location in Fuenterrabia you can enjoy many walks. One option is to contemplate the fishing port with its numerous art galleries but you can also enjoy the beach and get closer to Cape Higuer, in the confluence of the Bidasoa and the Cantabric sea. Other interesting sites are the sanctuary of Jaizkibel, with a wonderful view of the Txingudi Bay and the French coast.

Irún is a town in the frontier with France and the second biggest in the province because of its number of inhabitants. The Palaces of Urdanibia and Arbelaiz and the Hospital stand out. The Hermitage of Santa Elena is now an archeologic museum that is worth a visit. In the neighbouring areas you will see various "caserios", typical construction of the Basque Country, with their cotas of arms on the front. Irún is also the starting point to climb up to the Aia crags.

Bergara is a town of the Alto Deba, historically linked to the treaty, which ended with the first Carlist War the 29th of April 1839. Of all its charms, the urban ensemble, made up by the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) of the XVIIth century, the Royal Seminar and the Houses of Jáuregui and Zabala-Ondarza, with their coats of arms and decorative shapes, stands out. Other pleasurable visits in this town would be the temples of Santa María de Orixondo, Gothic with a Renaissance remodelling and San Pedro de Arizona with a Barroque tower. The old town centre is also a must with an abundance of ancestral homes. The road to Karakate with its dolmens and the climb up to Mounts Intxorta or San Marcial are also nice walks.

Eibar, in the occidental frontier with Vizcaya is the hometown of the artist Ignacio Zuloaga The temple of San Andrés is a unique example of Basque Gothic because of its peculiar Latin cross distribution, two apses, Corinthian chapiters and a magnificent plateresque altarpiece. Moreover, in the hermitage of Azitain there is an odd beardless Christ. Do not miss the tower-houses of Unzueta, Isasi, Aldatse and the sanctuary of Arrate, XVIIth century, on the hill of same name, which has an excellent panoramic view and entertainment areas.

Mondragón is an important industrial nucleus, cradle of Basque cooperativism. The Town Hall (Ayuntamiento), Barroque, the Monterrón Palace and the Okendo House stand out for their architectonic importance. The best hike is the one that ends at the peak of the Udalaitz after going through the Betsaide mountain pass, confluence of the three historical territories. Gelasibar, Bedoña and Garagarza are rural quarters wth attractive landscapes. In addition to all this the third Sunday in October the celebration of the Basque Mountain Climbing Day takes place.

Azpeitia, mainly an industrial centre, is home and sanctuary of San Ignacio de Loyola, patron of the Jesuit brotherhood. It is the most populated nucleus in the whole Valley of Urola. The house where the priest was born as well as the Basílica de Loyola, inaugurated in the XVIIIth century next to the ancestral home of the Loyola family, are a must.

Links:

• Institutional webs:
  www.donostia.org
  www.gipuzkoa.net
  www.euskadi.net
• Local newspapers:
  EL DIARIO VASCO www.diariovasco.com
  DEIA www.deia.com
• Other:
  www.viapolis.com
  www.donsnsn.es
  www.paisvasco.com/donostia

Services Directory

Hotels:

HOTEL AVENIDA ***
Paseo Igueldo 55
20008, San Sebastián
+34943212022
www.hotelavenida.net
47 rooms

HOTEL MARIA CRISTINA *****
Oquendo 1
20004, San Sebastián
+34943437600
136 rooms

HOTEL SAN SEBASTIÁN ****
Avda. Zumalacárregui 20
20008, San Sebastián
+34943214400
92 rooms

HOTEL NH ARANZAZU ****
Vitoria 1
20009, San Sebastián
+34943219077
www.nh-hoteles.com
180rooms

HOTEL TRYP ORLY ****
Plaza Zaragoza 4
20007, San Sebastián
+34943463200
www.hotel-orly.hypermart.net
66 rooms

HOTEL AMARA PLAZA ***
Plaza Pío XII 7
20010, San Sebastián
+34943464600
163 rooms

HOTEL London ****
Zubieta 2
San Sebastián
+34943426989
145 rooms

Restaurants:

AKELARRE
Adress: B. Igueldo. Paseo Padre Alcolaga, 56. 20008 San Sebastián
Telephone: 943212052
Fax: 943219258
Price: 60 / 75 euros.
Menu: 62 euros

ARZAK
Adress: Alto de Miracruz, 21. 20015 San Sebastián (Guipúzcoa).
Telephone: 94328 5593.
Fax: 943272753
Price: 66/75 euros
Menu: 65 euros.

MIRAMON ARBELAITZ
Adress: Parque Miramón. 20009 San Sebastián
Telephone: 943 30 82 20
Price a la carta: 53/57 euros.
Menus: 15, 27 y 48 euros.

ARKUPE
Adress: Paseo de Salamanca, 3. San Sebastián (Guipúzcoa).
Telephone: 943424040
Price: 42/60 euros.

CASA NICOLASA
Adress: Aldamar 4, San Sebastián.
Telephone: 943421762
Price: 56/60 euros.

Emergency:

Emergency coordination 112
Ambulances: Cruz Roja (Red Cross) 943222222
DYA 943464622
(Assistance on the Road Association)
Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu Hospital 943007000
Intxaurrondo Hospital 943321000

Museums:

SAN TELMO MUSEUM
(MUSEO SAN TELMO)
Plaza Zuloaga 1
San Sebastián
+34943424970
www.mundofree.com/aasantelmo/
Visiting Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10.30-13.30 h.
Sundays and public holidays 10.30-14 h.
Closed on Mondays
Free Admission.

NAVAL MUSEUM
(MUSEO NAVAL)
Paseo del muelle 24
San Sebastián
+34943430051
www.paisvasco.com/donostia/museonaval.htm
Visiting Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10-13.30 h., 16-19.30 h.
Sundays and public holidays: 11-14 h.
Closed on Mondays.
Admission Fees: Adults: 1.20€
Students and Pensioners: 0.60€
Groups: 1€
Children under 10: free
Thursdays free.

AQUARIUM
Plaza Carlos Blasco de Imaz
San Sebastián
+34943440099
www.aquariumss.com
Visiting Hours: 16 September - 14 June
Ticket office closes one hour before closing time.
Monday to Thursday: 10-19 h.
Friday and Weekend: 10-20 h.
15 June - 15 September
Ticket office closes at 20.15 h.
Open every day. Close the 25th of December and the 1st January.
Admisión Fees: Adults: 8.80€
3-11 year olds: 5€
Children under 3: free.
Pensioners: 10% discount on adult fee.
Students (only presenting the Student Card or Gazte Txartela): 1º% discount on adult fee.
Groups (minimum of 20 people): 5€

Transports:

Buses
URBAN BUSES
Compañía Municipal del Tranvía
Telephone: 943287100

LONG DISTANCE BUSES
Bus Station
Plaza Pío XII
Barrio de Amara, San Sebastián
Routes in the province of Guipúzcoa and routes with destination: Bilbao, Pamplona, Vitoria, Madrid, Barcelona, Castilla and Extremadura.
The Plaza de Gupúzcoa (Square) is the only start stop for the routes of Tolosa, Hondarribis, Bidasoa, Asteasu.

Companies and destinations:
La Baztanesa 943580129
San Sebastián-Elizondo
La Bidasotarra 943616763
San Sebastián-Lesaka-Pamplona
La Estellesa 943470115
San Sebastián-Lizarra/Estella-Logroño
La Roncalesa 943461064
San Sebastián-Pamplona-Zaragoza
San Sebastián-Zaragoza
Transportes PESA 943463974/ 902101210
San Sebastián-Bilbao
San Sebastián-Tolosa-Beasain-Bergara-Bilbao
San Sebastián
San Sebastián-San Juan de Luz-Bayona
San Sebastián-Lekeitio
San Sebastián-Arrasate/Mondragón-Aretxabaleta
San Sebastián-Elgoibar-Bergara-Arrasate/Mondragón-Vitoria
La Guipuzcoana 943851159
San Sebastián-Zestoa-Azpeitia-Azkoitia
Continental Auto 943469074
San Sebastián-Vitoria-Burgos-Madrid
San Sebastián-Andalucía
La Burundesa 943462360
San Sebastián-Vitoria
Eusko tren 943450131
San Sebastián-Usurbil-Orio-Zarautz-Getaria-Zumaia-Aia
Turytrans 943462369
Irún-San Sebastián-Santander-Oviedo-Gijón
Irún-San Sebastián-Santiago de Compostela- Tuy
Vivasa 943457500
San Sebastián-Barcelona
San Sebastián-Orense-Pontevedra-Vigo
Enatcar 943468087
San Sebastián-León
San Sebastián-Salamanca-Badajoz
San Sebastián-Valladolid-Salamanca-Cáceres-Mérida-Sevilla
Bilmanbus 943457500
Irún-San Sebastián-Valencia-Benidorm-Alicante-Murcia-La Manga

Trains
Amara Station North Station
Plaza Easo 9 Paseo de Francia
Sa Sebastián San Sebastián

SUBURBIAN AREAS
EUSKO TREN
Telephone (Amara Station) 902543210
Ermua-Bilbao (Atxuri)
Bilbao-San Sebastián

TOPO
Telephone: 943450131
San Sebastián-Irún-Hendaya

LONG DISTANCE
RENFE
Telephone: 902240202/ 943283089/ 943283599
Línea Irún-Vigo
Línea Irún-A Coruña
Línea Irún-Fuentes de Oroño
Línea Irún-Barcelona
Línea Irún-Alicante
Línea Irún-Algeciras
Línea Irún-Madrid

Taxis
Vanilla Teletaxi 943404040
Radio Taxi Donosti 943464646
Radio Taxi Suvital 943396840
Radio Teléfono 943467666/ 943398018
Residencia 943452972