The art found in the Old Part of Lezo, and particularly the areas around the square, is of high architectural-artistic value. One must is the Gothic image of the Holy Christ inside the Santo Cristo Basilica, a religious building which, although initially nothing but a small hermitage, saw the construction of today's Renaissance Basilica following presumed miracles at the end of the 16th Century and therefore the spreading of devotion to the image throughout the entire Basque Country. The peculiarity of this image lies in the fact that it is one of the only three beardless Christs to exist in Europe. You can also visit the Parish Church of San Juan Bautista, the first written reference to which dates from 1399. Other outstanding aspects in the Old Part are its 16th Century buildings, Emblazoned Houses, and the 17th Century Town Hall among others.
The Old Part stands out against Mount Jaizkibel, setting of various itineraries through a countryside dominated by the green of the mountains and the blue of the Bay of Biscay. One of these routes starts in Lezo, making its way over Mount Jaizkibel into Hondarribia.
Lezo also has numerous extremely valuable farmhouses such as Olatzar, Borda, Minkura, Bordatxo, Darieta-zar "Daita", Miura, Iribarren, Gaintza, Apaiziartza, Itzua bekoa, San Juan Iturria, Itxue, Galardi, Arpire-enea, Maisu Cristobal-enea, Susana-enea, Sagu-enea, Jamot-enea, Mandasayania, Pikandia-enea, Paskual-enea, Kuartela, Mariya-enea, Txerrimuno, Zabala-etxea and Andreone.
See cultural tour around the Old Part of Lezo
The basilica started out as a small chapel. Construction on the basilica began in the late 16th century in the Renaissance style. Inside is a unique and highly valuable beardless Byzantine Gothic Christ on the cross.
This church is located on a hill in the centre of town. Its origin is unknown, although the earliest documents mentioning the church date to 1399.
One of the remarkable aspects of the Old Part is the typical constructions of XVIth century: its emblazoned houses, of great architectonic value, historical and cultural. The most representative are: Arpire-Enea, Jamot-Enea, Paskual-Enea, Kuartela, Zabala-Etxea, Andreone.
Construction finalised in 1742. Since the mid-18th century the building has been used as a prison, archive, infirmary, meeting hall, tavern (under lease) and arms museum (containing at least 25 rifles and bayonets).
The towers of Mount Jaizkibel represent the warllike activity that ocurred duren the 19th century in this area.