Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Huddled in the shadow of its once-protective Monte Urgull, the Old Town is where San
Sebastián was born about 1,000 years ago. Because the town burned down in 1813 (as
Spain, Portugal, and England fought the French to get Napoleon's brother off the Spanish
throne), the architecture you see is generally Neoclassical and uniform. Still, the grid plan
of streets hides heavy Baroque and Gothic churches, surprise plazas, and fun little shops,
including venerable pastry stores, rugged produce markets, Basque-independence souven-
ir shops, and seafood-to-go delis. The highlight of the Old Town is its array of incredibly
lively tapas bars—though here these snacks are called
pintxos
(PEEN-chohs; see “Eating
in San Sebastián” on
here
). To see the fishing industry in action, wander out to the port
(described later).
