The Basque Country & Northern Spain
Donostia-San Sebastian
Gipuzkoa Province
Basque Country
Usually referred to as just “San Sebastian”, the official name is a combination of Basque and Spanish words that mean the same thing; Donostia-San Sebastian. Both names are prominently used together on roads signs, publications and elsewhere. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa province and together with the surrounding area has a poulation of about a half million. It is, like all the other cities and towns we visited on this trip, clean and walkable.
San Sebastion is primarily a tourist haven. It has two beautiful beaches Playa de la Concha and Playa de Ondarreta in a protected bay and overlooked by high-end hotels and condos. The large, long beaches and the surrounding four mountains are very picturesque,
Eduardo Chillida, the famous Basque sculptor from the area, produced important sculptures for San Sebastian. One “The Comb of the Wind” at the entrance to the harbor, is a collection of three large steel sculptures arranged as an architectural work by the Basque architect Luis Peña Ganchegui. Another, in granite, “Homage to Fleming”, pays tribute to the discoverer of penicillin, Alexander Fleming.
Other major sculptures in the city include “The Pieta” by Jose Ramon Anda and "Empty Construction” by Jorge Orteiza.
San Sebastian from Monte Igueldo
(2570)
San Sebastian from Monte Igueldo
(2535)
Isle of Santa Clara (l) and Monte Urgull (r)
(6300)
Seminary of San Sebastian Diocese
(2420)
Monte Igueldo Funicular
(2436)
Monte Igueldo Funicular
(2435)
Monte Igueldo Funicular
(2434)
Monte Igueldo Funicular
(2433)
Monte Igueldo Funicular
(2431)
Monte Igueldo Funicular
(2533)
“The Comb of the Wind” by Eduard Chillida, 1976
(2471)
“The Comb of the Wind” by Eduard Chillida, 1976
(2466)
“The Comb of the Wind” by Eduard Chillida, 1976
(2460)
Geology next to the harbor entrance
(6297)
Harbor entrance
(6292)
Harbor entrance
(6298)
Onderreta Beach and Monte Igueldo
(2443)
Onderreta Beach
(2441)
Onderreta Beach
(6289)
Onderreta Beach
(6285)
Tunnel between Onderreta and La Concha beaches
(2474)
La Concha Beach
(6302)
La Concha Beach
(6302)
La Concha Promenade and Monte Urgull
(6304)
“Homage to Fleming” by Eduardo Chillida, 1955.
(2531)
“Sacred Heart” statue on Monte Urgull
(2480)
“Sacred Heart” statue on Monte Urgull
(2482)
La Concha Promenade
(2486)
"Don Quixote and Sancho Panza” in Plaza Cervantes, by Lorenzo Valera, 1929.
(2495)
Boulevard Kiosk
(2497)
Constitution Plaza
(2504)
Constitution Plaza
(2503)
Constitution Plaza
(2505)
Constitution Plaza
(6313)
Church of St. Vincent
(2508)
“The Pieta” by Jose Ramon Anda at the Church of St. Vincent
(6319)
Church of St. Vincent
(2511)
"Empty Construction” by Jorge Orteiza, 1957.
(2515)
"Empty Construction” by Jorge Orteiza, 1957.
(2512)
"Empty Construction” by Jorge Orteiza, 1957.
(2519)
"Empty Construction” by Jorge Orteiza, 1957.
(2519)
Isle of Santa Clara and Monte Igueldo
(2520)
City Hall, San Sebastian
(2522)
City Hall, San Sebastian
(2527)
San Sebastian Carrousel
(6335)
San Sebastian Carrousel
(6334)
© Tom Lebsack 2023
Banner photo taken at Chillida Leku, Hernani