San Sebastian Architecture
CHURCH OF SAN VICENTE
Located in the old town, the Church of San Vicente is the oldest temple in the city.
Built during the first half of the sixteenth century in the Gothic style, inside you can find one of the finest Romanesque altarpiece, the work of Ambrose and Juan de Iriarte Bengoechea.
Next to it, you can find the French organ Cavaille-Coll, 1868, and its stunning stained glass windows. In its front side, the sculpture “The Pieta” by artist Jorge Oteiza.
BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA
The Basilica of Santa Maria is a stunning work of eighteenth century baroque style at the High Street in the old town of Donostia. In this work it is included the Baroque façade churrigueresco hue, dominated by a statue of St. Sebastian Martyr and altarpiece dedicated to the Virgen del Coro, patron of the city.
Along with the font, you can see a cross-shaped sculpture by Eduardo Chillida. The Basilica was built between 1743 and 1774, on the floor of a temple that occupied the same space. The front door straight coincides with the entrance to the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.
CONSTITUCION SQUARE
The heart of the old part is occupied by the Constitution Square. Its main building was the forties the city of San Sebastian.
The colorful balconies of surrounding buildings have numbers printed one we go back to his past in which he made bullring functions. Today, however, the Constitution Square is a lively place and stage star of the most important local festivals.
The Constitution Square is the site of the most important festivals of the city, on January 20, the day of San Sebastian and also on Dec. 21, St. Thomas.
GOOD SHEPHERD CATHEDRAL
Built in the nineteenth century, which opened in 1897, its pointed style aesthetic is inspired by medieval churches in Germany and France.
Proof of that inspiration is the sharp needle that crowns the building and that gives the category of “the highest of San Sebastian.”
The main façade, highlights “The Cross of Peace” by the sculptor Eduardo Chillida. With its 1915 meters square is the largest church in the city.
The Cathedral was built with slate and stone of Mount Igeldo.
CITY HALL
The current City Hall of San Sebastian was, since it opened on July 1, 1897 until it closed in 1924, for the prohibition of gambling, home of the Grand Casino of San Sebastian. With their spinners and his Ballroom, currently Plenary Hall, was entertained politicians, writers and artists of the Belle Epoque.
The 20 January 1947 became the town hall of the city, which moved its headquarters from the Plaza de la Constitution. In the Bay of La Concha, with the constant atmosphere of the Old Town behind and the tranquility of the gardens in front of Alderdi Eder, the City is definitely a mandatory stop.
Calle Ijentea, 1
C. P. 20003
Tel.: 943 48 10 00
Web: http://www.donostia.org
VICTORIA EUGENIA THEATER
With a typical design of the Belle Epoque but in a spirit of the most current. Here’s the Victoria Eugenia Theatre. Located in the center, with an eye to the Kursaal and the River Urumea, the Victoria Eugenia offers visitors a varied program and constantly changing.
The sandstone building and decorative motifs plateresque Spanish Renaissance forms, was created by the architect Francisco de Urcola in 1912. On the facade of the building stand on the Doric columns, four sculptural groups representing the opera, tragedy, comedy and drama.
Victoria Eugenia Theatre has been for decades the main stage at the International Film Festival and since its renovation in 2007 offers new spaces and edge audiovisual technologies.
A ROYAL PALACE ON THE BEACH
This palace was created for summer stays of Queen Maria Cristina and the Royal Family, they decided to establish the actual holiday in San Sebastian, from the year 1887. Their views are stunning on the two beaches bahíay Santa Clara Island, located just opposite.
The palace was built in Miramar style ‘English Queen Anne cottage’ under the direction of english architect Seldon Wornum, who also designed several palaces in Biarritz and San Juan de Luz. It was built of brick and sandstone with timber frame. Its gardens are the work of Pierre Ducasse master gardener, author, also, of the palace of Aiete and Gipuzkoa Square.
In its halls are held summer courses of the Basque Country University and is home of the Higher School of Music of the Basque Country, Musikene.
Pº de la República Argentina, 2
Tel: 943 48 11 60
www.victoriaeugenia.com
www.donostiakultura.com
Calle Paseo de Miraconcha, 48
C. P. 20007
Tel.: 943 21 90 22
KURSAAL
One of the great expressions of contemporary architecture, this awesome building is a hallmark of San Sebastian from its construction, a conference center that houses from festivals to exhibitions of all kinds …
In perfect proportion, both outside and inside, these two “buckets” that were designed by the architect Rafael Moneo and offer different possibilities for each day of the year.
Av. de la Zurriola 1
Tel.: 943 00 30 00
Fax: 943 00 30 01
E-mail: kursaal@kursaal.org
www.kursaal.org
A BOAT BEACHED IN THE BAY
The Real Club Nautico de San Sebastián is a rationalist style building that played a boat docked at the pier.
Also, is the most important in the Spanish context of modern architecture and has recently been declared “of cultural interest” in the category of “Memorial”.
Beside, you can enjoy a renovated pier and a terrace overlooking the sea recently opened.
Calle Ijentea, 9
C. P. 20.003
Tel.: 943 42 35 75
Web: http://www.rcnss.com