10 THINGS NOT TO BE MISSED

02. Durango

Get to know

Wandering around the monuments of the old quarter is tantamount to taking a walk through the town’s fascinating history.

The town is also a cultural hub, and at weekends is a bustling hive of events and activities. Every December it celebrates a prestigious book and record fair, during which it becomes a meeting place for all those interested in Basque culture and the Basque language.

There are many interesting places to visit in the town, including the Kurutziaga Museum, Kurutziaga Calvary, Lariz Tower, several stately homes and the town hall (the façade of which contains paintings from the 18th century), San Pedro de Tabira Church (16th century), a Franciscan monastery (16th century) and the new Landako neighbourhood.

01 Old Quarter

There are two main churches in the old quarter of Durango: Santa Ana Church and Santa María de Uribarri Church, which stand at opposite ends of the historic enclave. Santa Ana Church is a baroque building located next to the archway of the same name. Santa Ana Arch is one of the old entrance gates to the town.

At the opposite end of the old quarter stands the gothic Santa María de Uribarri Church, which contains one of the most spectacular and original wooden porticos in the Basque Country. The Santa María de Uribarri portico has long been used as a meeting place by local inhabitants, and a place to shelter from the sun or the rain.

The old quarter of Durango is full of life. It is by far the best place to enjoy a pintxo (mini bar snack) and try our local cuisine. Moreover, throughout the year, many different activities linked to gastronomy are organised here, including, for example, the Ardo Saltsan delicatessen fair, which is held in March.

02 Santa Ana Arch

The Santa Ana Arch is Durango’s most prominent symbol. It is the only surviving archway of the six that once graced the town’s wall. Built in the baroque style, it dates from the 16th century, although it was redesigned and rendered even more spectacular during the 18th century.

Through the Fish and Wine Trail, it linked the Kingdom of Castile to the coast of the Bay of Biscay, as well as to Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa.

03 Santa María Portico

Nuestra Señora de Uribarri Basilica was completed during the 15th century and has a magnificent wooden portico, the largest of its kind in the Basque Country. The upper structure is made from wood and rests on 11 columns, 9 pilasters and two walls of the basilica itself.

During the bombing of Durango, the portico and some of the larger areas of the basilica were almost completely destroyed. The building we see today is the result of the restoration work carried out after the Spanish Civil War.

04 Kurutziaga Calvary

This Gothic-style calvary was built at the end of the 15th century on the site known as Kurutziaga, formerly used for burning heretics and witches.

The carvings at the bottom of the cross represent sin and sorrow, followed by the Church and the Gospels; and those at the top represent salvation and forgiveness.