San Sebastian
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San Sebastián was founded in 1524, and the old town is built on a sandy neck of land connecting the mainland with the rocky and steep Monte Urgull, which is crowned by the 16th-century fortress of La Mota. It is the site of one of Spain's most outstanding art galleries and of the Palace of Miramar, the summer residence of the king. The city of San Sebastián has a technical college and a conservatory of music. Its population is 182,930 (2005 estimate). It has the most bars per square meter in the entire world.
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[edit] Transportation
You can get to San Sebastian using the Airport, Bus Station ([1]), or Train (Renfe)
The bus station is south of the city center on Pl. Pio XII, while the RENFE train station, Barrio de Gross, and Playa de la Zurriola are across the river from the parte vieja east of the city.
[edit] Orientation
The Rio Urumea splits San Sebastian. The two most popular beaches are in the west side of the river, Playa de la Concha and Playa de Ondaretta. At the tip of the peninsula sits Monte Urgull. On the east side of the river, Playa de la Zurriola attracts a younger surfing and beach crowd. Inland lies the "Parte Vieja" (old city), San Sebastian's restaurants, nightlife, and budget accommodation nexus, where you’ll find the most tourists. The river is spanned by four bridges: Puente Zurriola, Santa Catalina, Maria Cristina and Mundaiz.
San Sebastian |
San Sebastian |
[edit] Practical Information
[edit] Climate
[edit] Hospitals
- Hospital Donostia ([2])
- Casa del Socorro
[edit] Accomodation and Camping
| Name | Quality | Address |
| María Cristina [3] | Luxury Collection | Paseo Republica Argentina, 4 San Sebastian E-20004 +34 943 43 76 00 |
| Hotel Hesperia Donosti | 4 Stars | Avenida de Zarautz, 120 San Sebastián |
| Hotel Silken Amara Plaza | 4 Stars | Plaza Pío XII, 7 San Sebastián |
| Hotel San Sebastián | 4 Stars | Avenida de Zumalakarregi, 20 San Sebastián |
| Hotel Europa | 3 Stars | Calle de San Martín, 52 San Sebastián |
| Hotel Sercotel Codina | 2 Stars | Avda. Zumalacárregui, 21 San Sebastián |
| Pension La Perla | Hostel | C. Loyola 10 San Sebastian +34 943 42 81 23 |
| Pension Urkia | Hostel | C. Urbieta 12, 3rd Floor San Sebastian +34 943 42 44 36 |
[edit] Food
Pintxos (tapas), traditional in Donosita, San Sebatian, mostly located in bars in the parte vieja.
[edit] Restaurants
Kursaal
Po. Zurriola 1 San Sebastian, Spain
Arrai Txiki
C. del Campanario 3 San Sebastian, Spain
[edit] Super Markets
Mercado de la Bexta
Alameda el Boulevard 3 at San Juan
San Sebastian, Spain
Open M-Sa Hours 9:00-9:00
Súper Todo Todo
Alameda el Boulevard 3 at San Juan
San Sebastian, Spain
Open M-Sa Hours 8:30-9:00 and Su Hours 9:00-9:00
[edit] Sights
You can have beautiful walks around the city, great buildings and placid bay and beaches.
- Monte Urgull – Great Mountain, also and spectacular view of the city.
- Monte Igueldo – The best view of the city.
- Castillo de Santa Cruz de la Mota – It has a greatest statue in the topo f the Mountain called “Sagrado Corazon de Jesús"also it has a chapel and 12 cannons in the castel.
- 'Pico del Loro
[edit] Museums
Museo de San Telmo – Main museum of San Sebastian.
Open Hours: Sunday 10:30-2:00, Tuesday-Saturday 10:30-20:30
Musée de la Mer de Biarritz
Pza. Carlos Blasco de Imaz
+34 943 44 00 99
[edit] Aquarium
Aquarium San Sebastian – It has been inaugurated in 1998 because of the remodelling of the installations.
Pza. Carlos Blasco de Imaz
+34 943 44 00 99
[edit] Nightlife
| Club/Bar | Type of Music | Address |
| Pacha Black | Bar | San Bartolomé San Sebastian Donostia, Spain |
[edit] History
- The monastery of St. Sebastian, in the term of Hernani is donated to the Abbey of Leire by Sancho III of Pamplona.
- 1150 The city is chartered (given fuero) by king Sancho VI of Pamplona, having jurisdiction over all the territory between the rivers Oria and Bidasoa.
- 1200 The city is conquered by Castile, whose king Alfonso VIII, confirms its fuero.
- 1656 The city is used as the royal headquarters during the marriage of the Infanta to Louis XIV at Hendaye nearby.
- 1728 The foundation of the "Real Compañía Guipuzcoana de Caracas" boosts commerce with the Americas.
- 1808 Napoleonic forces capture San Sebastian in the Peninsular War.
- 1813 On 31st August, British and Portuguese troops besieging San Sebastian defeat French occupying troops. The relieving troops lost all self-control and burnt down the city, in spite of the fact that the inhabitants were anti-French. Only the street at the foot of the hill (now called 31st August Street) remains.
- 1813 The city is rebuilt in the same spot but with a slightly altered layout, but architecturally in much the same style.
- 1833 British volunteers under Sir George de Lacy Evans defend the city against Carlist attack. Their fallen are buried at the "English Cemetery" on Monte Urgull.
- 1863 The city walls are demolished (their remains are visible in the underground carpark at the Boulevarde) and an expansion of the city begins.
- 1936 The military coup is defeated by resistance lead by the Basque Nationalists.[1]
- 1936 The province falls to Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War.[2]
- 1953 The St. Sebastian International Film Festival begins.
[edit] Recreation
Donostia-San Sebastian is the home city of the Primera División football (soccer) club Real Sociedad. The city's Anoeta Stadium also hosts rugby union matches featuring Biarritz Olympique
[edit] Culture
Every year on 20 January (the feast of Saint Sebastian) the people of San Sebastian celebrate a festival known as the "Danborrada". At midnight in the Konstituzioa plaza in the "Alde Zaharra/Parte Vieja" (old city), the mayor raises the flag of San Sebastián, and during 24 hours the entire city is awash with the sound of drums. The adults dress as cooks and soldiers and march around the city. They march all night with their cook hats and white aprons with the March of San Sebastián. The origin of this custom is said to be that Spanish tradesmen, including cooks, mocked the occupying French army during the Napoleonic wars, by aping their daily procession from Monte Urgull to the water-pump at San Telmo. Later, the procession was developed when Vicente "Txiki" Buenechea donated barrels to be used as drums for the procession. Adults usually have dinner in "Sociedades", which provide elements of the procession, and which traditionally were only admitted for males. Nowadays even the strictest ones allow women on the "Noche de la Tamborrada". They eat very sophisticated meals cooked by themselves, mostly composed of seafood (traditionally elver, now no longer served due to its exorbitant price) and drink the best wines. For "Donostiarras" this is the most celebrated festival of the year. After hearing drums all night children wake up with a version of the Tamborrada for kids. Children dress traditionally as soldiers and march around the city. Children from all the schools of San Sebastián march that day. They have their specific costumes which usually represent a particular country (England, Germany, Romania, etc.) A festival called Semana Grande in Spanish and Aste Nagusia in Basque ("Big/Main Week") is held every year in August. There is a fireworks competition in which every night there is a fireworks presentation over the bay, and at the end, a winner is declared. San Sebastian is known for its Basque cuisine and pintxos (tapas) and restaurant district near the port. The most important Basque international film festival is held in this city, the Donostia-San Sebastian International Film Festival