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San Sebastian

Excursion tour in San Sebastian. Top architecture - monuments, castles, temples and palaces

San Sebastian In this article, dedicated to the architecture of San Sebastian, we will 'fly' over such iconic historical monuments as Iglesia de Santa Maria del Coro, Catedral del Buen Pastor, Castillo de La Mota, and San Ignacio Church. In addition to the virtual flight video, we offer the most important and interesting facts about every landmark, including high-quality photographs. You can also use this article to make your own excursion tour in San Sebastian. Simply use the icon to locate the object of interest on the map of San Sebastian.

Iglesia de Santa Maria del Coro, San Sebastian

» The Roman Catholic Church was built in the late 18th century. Historically, it is located in the city center. The construction lasted over 20 years.
»  The basilica has survived in its original form. The central entrance is between two decorated towers. You can see church symbols on the facade. There is a clock at the top of the church. Above the doorway, there is the statue of revered Sebastian. You can also see the picture of him in the basilica.
»  The Christian follower was brutally murdered in 288. He was pierced with arrows upon the order of the Roman Emperor. The city is named after him.
»  There is the emblem of the city on the wall. There are sculptures in semicircular niches with a relief base. Octagonal 15-meter columns support the vault inside. The hall with a total area of 48x33 m is divided into three sectors.
»  The altar is devoted to the patroness of citizens, the Holy Great Martyr Mary. The image of the Virgin Mary is carved out of wood. The sculpture was made in the 15th-16th century.
»  At the end of the summer month, you can listen to the famous choir Orfeón Donostiarra in Santa Maria del Coro.

Catedral del Buen Pastor, San Sebastian

» Catedral del Buen Pastor is a religious building.
»  The construction of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd lasted 9 years. Such a long period was conditioned by the lack of funding. The construction was finished in 1897.
»  The city hall allocated the land in the city specifically for it.
»  The ceremony of the laying of the first stone was visited by the royal family. The acceptance document was signed by the future King Alfonso XIII who even didn’t reach 3 years of age at that time. So, his wrist was held by the Queen.
»  Light yellow sandstone was delivered from Mount Igueldo specifically for the construction.
»  The cathedral has a total area of almost 2 000 m2.
»  The bell tower with a spire is 75 m high.
»  4 thousand worshipers can visit services here.
»  The 30-ton organ of 1954 is the biggest in Spain. It consists of 9 535 pipes. One of them is 10 m long.
»  Stained glass windows have been made by special order. The windows depict apostles or geometric objects.
»  The relics of the first priest of the church rest in the crypt here.

Castillo de La Mota, San Sebastian

» On the mountain slope, there is a medieval fortress at a height of 120 m above sea level.
»  “Slope” is “mota” in Spain and that is why the Castle of La Mota is called like that.
»  The fortress was used for protective purposes in a particular period of time. The castle held down the siege of the enemy. The quite small object includes cannons.
»  The first defense barriers were constructed here in the 12th century. They have survived to this day. Over the centuries, the castle has been reconstructed and updated for better defensive capacity. Most of the rooms were inhabited by people once but now the castle is empty.
»  Nowadays, the building is an architectural monument. Inner rooms house museum exhibits. You can trace the city development through the layouts of buildings, old outfits, audio and video materials.
»  In 1950, the sculpture of Christ was placed in the center of the castle square. It is very high and seen from any district of the city. At night, the statue of Jesus is illuminated with colorful lamps.
»  You can go up the stairs to the castle within 40 minutes. When going up there, tourists can admire the flora of the park with benches.

San Ignacio Church, San Sebastian

Location on the map:
Facts: » The religious building - San Ignacio Church - is built in Neo-Gothic style. The construction dates back to the middle of the 18th century.
»  San Ignacio is blessed and named after St. Loyola.
»  Revered Ignatius was born in Gipuzkoa. He founded the Jesuit Order and was at the Spanish service as an officer. People remember him as a merciful person doing good deeds for humans. He was canonized for his peacekeeping.
»  The church with a dome is 65 m high. The rich interior is decorated with marble items and semiprecious stones. The luxurious altar is made in the Baroque style. The vault is supported by painted columns. You can see the sculpture of St. Ignatius here. It is made of silver.
»  The church is the part of the monastery complex. The building was constructed in several stages from 1689 to 1888.
»  Today, Jesuit College was founded in the monastery. Basic religious justifications are studied here.
»  The church is 115 m high.
»  The building is officially named Monastery of San Ignacio de Loyola.

Kursaal Congress Centre, San Sebastian

Location on the map:
Facts: » The multifunctional complex includes several premises, conference rooms, and exhibition halls. The Congress Center was opened in 1999. It had been built on the embankment for 10 years.
»  The exterior of the building is quite extraordinary, as it looks like two cubes growing from the single foundation. Panels of compressed glass are fastened to the metal frame. Transparent prisms are linked by the common platform for recreation.
»  This area lets hold concerts in the open air. There are also stores and a restaurant. The Kursaal Congress Centre is really spectacular at night when its illuminated windows glow.
»  The designer received a prestigious award for architectural audacity and innovative solution.
»  There is a spacious hall with 1 800 spectators’ seats in the biggest building. The other chamber hall in the next building accommodates 600 visitors. There is also a place for temporary exhibitions.
»  Thanks to such an unusual art object, the small town San Sebastian turned into the center where international festivals are held.
»  300 events are annually organized here.
San Sebastian - guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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