San Sebastian - Definition and Overview

Geography > Europe > Spain > Basque Country > Guipuscoa

San Sebastián with sailboats

San Sebastián (Donostia in Basque) is the capital city of the province of Guipúzcoa, in the Spanish autonomous community of Basque Country. Its population is 178,017 (2001 estimate).

The city is located in the northeast of Spain, on the Bay of Biscay, close to the French border. San Sebastian's picturesque coastline makes it a popular beach resort.

History

c. 1180 Donostia awarded status as fuero by King Sancho VI of Navarre

1807 Napoleonic forces capture San Sebastián

1813 Siege of San Sebastián results in destruction by fire of city

1863 City walls demolished; expansion of city begins

1937 Province falls to fascist forces

Landmarks

• Igueldo Mountain
• Urgull Mountain
• San Telmo Museum
• Miramar Palace
• Kursaal Palace
• Santa Clara Island

Recreation

San Sebastián/Donostia is the home city of the Primera División football club Real Sociedad.

Culture

Every year on January 20th the people of San Sebastián celebrate a festival known as the Tamborrada. On midnight in the Constitution plaza in the old city, the leader of the festival raises the flag of San Sebastián, and for 24 hours the entire city is awash with the sound of drums.

A festival called La Semana Grande de San Sebastián 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 Sebastián is known for its tapas and restaurant district near the port of San Sebastián.

External Link

• Official website (http://www.donostia.org/taxo.nsf/fwCanal?OpenForm&idCanal=B&idioma=ing)
• San Sebastian photos (http://donosti.mundurat.net/fotos_san_sebastian/)
• Donostia photos (http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/argazkiak2003/)
• City photos (http://galeria.ameva.net/categories.php?cat_id=6)