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Pasaia, at a glance
Outstanding in the Old Parts of Pasai Donibane and Pasai San Pedro are palatial mansions and noble family houses. This kind of building, dating prior to 1800, has a particular typology-architecture setting it apart from the other constructions: self-standing houses like Arizabalo Mansion, or semi-detached like the Platain, Miranda and Villaviciosa houses, all in Pasaia Donibane. There are also narrow, deep terraced houses such as that backing onto Platain House and several family houses such as numbers 44 and 46 of San Pedro. Lastly, we mustn't forget to mention the various bridge-houses typical of Pasai Donibane.
But we can also find popular or middle-class houses: houses with facades in direct contact with the estuary or with their facades looking out onto the estuary; houses with two facades, one looking inland and the other facing the estuary (as is the case of Pasai Donibane); or streets or other spaces looking out over the estuary, such as Bonantza Ibilbidea and the Calle San Pedro. It is also common in Pasai Donibane to find popular or middle-class farmhouses backed against the hillside and entered by a side stairway.
Dossier on maritime activities in the bay of Pasaia
Cultural Route around the Old Part of Pasaia
In the historic centres of Pasai Donibane and Pasai San Pedro it is necessary to mention the amount of palaces and important family houses which can be found. All buildings were constructed before 1800 and most of them have direct access to the Bay.
Pasai Donibane
In the Old Part of Pasaia Donibane we will take the only but very pretty street making its way through the old part with its passageways beneath the houses, hidden corners and other charming details.
Bizkaia District in Pasai Donibane
This was a shipbuilding area serving as a base for ships belonging to the Real Compañía Gipuzcoana de Caracas, founded in 1728.
Platain House of 16th century
16th century ashlar and brick framework building with carven wooden eaves.
Royal Porcelain Factory of 19th century
A porcelain factory existed until the 19th century in the area alongside the high chimney in the Bizkaia district.
Palais Arizabalo-Town Hall
Impressive 18th century manor house with a large central coat of arms. Nowadays the Town Hall.
Parish Church of San Juan Bautista
Cruciform church opened for worship in 1643 featuring a combination of Neoclassical and Baroque styles in the facade. Inside are the tombs of the Ferrer brothers, an image of Santa Faustina and a magnificent retable by Sebastián de Lekuona with sculptures by Felipe Arizmendi.
Miranda House Renaissance style
16th century Renaissance style building. Columned facade with two coats of arms.
Victor Hugo House
17th century typical fishermen's house where Victor Hugo lived in 1843.
Calvary of 16th century
Built in the 16th century in the Mannerist style with the calvary cross of Our Lady of Mercy.
Villaviciosa Mansion, house of Renaissance style of 16th century
Villaviciosa mansion is a 16th century building with a plaque commemorating the departure of the Marquis of Lafayette in 1777.
Santa Ana Hermitage
Santa Ana Hermitage Built on a hill overlooking the bay, possibly of Romanesque origin. Restored in 1758. Inside there is a polychrome image of Saint Anne brought from Holland in the 16th century.
Santiago Square in Pasai Donibane
The square is lined on one side by a long row of tall narrow typical fishermen's houses. In the centre, the historic Town Hall, built in 1741.
Old Town Hall of Pasaia
At the centre of the row of houses standing in the Plaza de Santiago, in Pasai Donibane (San Juan), we will find the Baroque old Town Hall, dating from 1741.
Church of Santo Cristo de Bonanza
Built in the 18th century in the Baroque style. According to tradition, the 17th century image of the Christ of Bonanza was found at sea by fishermen, and soon became a figure of worship for sea merchants, fishermen and privateers.
Pasai San Pedro
San Pedro is the area of Pasaia that houses the wharf and fishing fleet, an image plunging us deep into the local seafaring flavour.
Church of San Pedro
Built in the 18th century by the Carrera brothers in the Baroque style. Noteworthy is the decoration on the left side of the church, where an image of Saint Peter the Apostle can also be seen.
Blas de Lezo House
The birthplace of one of our most daring sailors. With only one eye, one arm, and one leg, Blas de Lezo defeated the English fleet in 1741 on the coast of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.
Ferrer House of 19th century
Standing in front of San Pedro Quay, Ferrer House is one of a series of elements related to this local family found in different parts of the village.
Romanesque and Gothic Doorways of cemetery
Dating respectively to the 12th and 15th centuries. They belonged to the former church of San Pedro.
Mater, Ecoactive Museum Boat
Everyone who visits MATER Ecoactive Museum Boat will obtain information of how our fishermen live, to which fishing-grounds they go and which arts they use, because it remains as if it could go fishing.
Albaola The Sea Factory of the Basques
With the building of historical boats as its main activity, Albaola The Sea Factory of the Basques, is an innovative environment where the marine artisanal technology is recovered and showcased. The Factory is open to public and is characterized by its dynamism, the diversity of its activities and its international ambition.
