Donostia-San Sebastian
Donostia-San Sebastian, the summer capital of Spain is located in the Basque country and is at a distance of 21 KM from the border of France. It is nearer to the Bay of Biscay and green mountains surround it. The population of this town increases dramatically in summer because the Spanish people go to this place to avoid the heat inland. The population in this town is about 185,000.This is the capital of Guipuzcoa province which is the smallest in Spain. This is a good holiday resort and you can explore the Basque country staying in this place. The river Uremia divides this city into two.
History
Once upon a time, Donostia-San Sebastian was a small fishing village where the residents were living facing the sea. They hunted for whales and fished for cod for their living. There was a time when this port was very busy and was used for import of oil and wine for England and France. This town was subjected to a number of sieges over a long period and Napoleon"s soldiers occupied it in 1808 and stayed up to 1813.
Climate
The average temperatures in a year are as follows:
Maximum ò€“ 22 Ò°C in the months of July-August
Minimum ò€“ 5 Ò°C in December-January
Art and Culture
1.Parte Vieja ò€“ is the old quarter where you can see the traditional life of the locals; the streets here are narrow.
2.Plaza de la ConstituciÓ³n ò€“ was the town hall earlier but at present it is the library.
3.The square ò€“ at the center was a bullring once.
4.Basilica of Santa Maria del Coro ò€“ is the city"s patron saint and is located on the street ò€“ Calle 31 de Agosto that survived the fire in 1813.
5.Naval museum and aquarium ò€“ are located near the harbor.
6.The Cathedral ò€“ was built in the 19th century and has a neo-Gothic structure; its top is at a height of 75 M from which you can see the whole city.
7.Castillo de la Santa Cruz de la Mota ò€“ is on Mount Urgull built on the site of a fort.
Cuisine
Seafood is a specialty in this town.
Sports and Entertainment
There are 3 beaches ò€“ Ondarreta, La Concha and La Zurriola. Queen Isabel popularized the beach La Concha which is considered as one of Europe"s most beautiful beaches.
You will find that the sunset in this city is impressive and also the nightlife in the old quarter.
Shopping
The best shopping place is Paseo de Muelle where you can buy most of the products. You can also purchase Basque products like berets and cotton shirts.