"Pasaia" by zizu

The constitution of Pasaia as municipality is recent. The two historical districts, San Pedro and Donibane, go back to the foundational acts of Donostia and Hondarribia respectively. Donibane had got the independence of Hondarribia in 1770 and San Pedro of Donostia in 1805.
The national road-1 and the railway Madrid-Irun, which crossed the district, were the origins of the formation of district of Antxo in the year 1890.
In February of 1984, the town was declared as Town with Historic Centre.

The harbour of Pasaia, in the middle of his history, has been an important function based in three main aspects: commerce, fishing and shipbuilding. The growing of trade routes produced a specialization of the fishing and shipbuilding. The commerce with America, the whale and codfish expeditions to Newfoundland and the iron providing in this area supposed his hegemony throughout the world.

The west side of the bay and the best place to live. Adjacent to Trintxerpe and in front of Pasai Donibane, the acces to the old part of Pasai San Pedro is made from the Church of San Pedro. There, we find some traditional houses as the Admiral Blas de Lezo´s natal house (1689) and the Admiral Sebastian Etxeberria´s house. At the end of this street, the Tower square, where is situated the Nestor Basterretxea´s sculpture "In honour of the fishermen and navigators died in the sea", installed in 1971 on the same place where was the old tower of San Pedro. In this place, we can choose between go to Donibane by sea or continue the path near to the sea until La Plata Lighthouse.

The east side of the bay, and the second better place to live.
OK, it has an advantage; you can see Pasai San Pedro all day ;-)
In Donibane, having a walking throught the old street with their four arches, we contemplate some buildings with a great monumental importance:
-Arizabalo´s palace. Baroque (18th century)
- The Church of Saint John Baptist, built in 1643
- Ontziola. Centre of research and Construction of Traditional boats. Now, it´s located in Astilleros Azkorreta in Pasai San Pedro. The visitor can see the building replicas of the most emblematic vessels using long fogotten techniques by the shipwrights
- Miranda´s House. Renaissance style (16th century)
-Victor Hugo´s house. This house is situated on the right of the Miranda´s house. In this house the famous French writer stayed some days in love with this beautiful place of which eulogised in one of his works. Today, in this house, is situated the tourist office, an exhibition room to premanent exhibitions and other room to temporary exhibitions.
- Calvary and Villaviciosa´s Palace. The Calvary of the 16th century has a popular Renaissance style. Near it is situated the Villaviciosa´s Palace that has a Renaissance style and it was built in the 16th century. In his front, we find the commemorative plaque of the Marquis de Lafayette´s departure to the American War of Indepedence in 1777.
-The Hermitage of Santa Ana. At the top of the mountain it watches the entrance to the port and the bay. Inside there is an image of Saint Ana brougth from Holland to Pasaia in the 16th century.
- The Basilica of Saint Christ of Bonanza. This building of the 18th century has an image ot the Saint Christ of Bonanza of the 17th century.
- The castle of Santa Isabel. This fortification was built by order of The Emperor Charles to protect the part from the possible attacks of the foreign war ships or the pirates.