La town of Zumaia is located in the Basque Country, in the province of Guipúzcoa. It is located on the coast, facing the Cantabrian Sea and in the bay that has been formed by the confluence of the Urola and Narrondo rivers. This small town has a lot to offer visitors, as it has a beautiful old town with some emblematic buildings and beautiful natural spaces.
Zumaia also stands out for being a place where some scenes from the series of the moment, 'Game of Thrones', hence the visits have increased. In the surroundings we can find places of interest for a great weekend getaway.
Parish Church of San Pedro
Upon reaching the town of Zumaia, we find several free parking lots, making it a convenient place to visit. Is Church of San Pedro Apóstol is a Gothic building from the XNUMXth century. It is quite peculiar, since when we see it we will think at first that it is a fortress and not a church, due to its large tower with a fortified aspect. Inside the church there is an altarpiece by the artist Juan de Antxieta, which has been declared a national monument.
Hermitage of San Telmo
La Ermita de San Telmo is located on the beach of Itzurun. It is not a particularly striking building, but what is impressive are the views from the hermitage. This hermitage is dedicated to the patron saint of sailors and contains a Rococo altarpiece from the XNUMXth century. In this hermitage scenes from the movie 'Eight Basque surnames' were filmed. Nearby there is a great viewpoint from which to take incredible pictures of the sea and the beach.
Foronda Palace
This palace was built in the early XNUMXth century by the architect Juan José Gurruchaga. This palace is currently used for events, such as a house of culture, a library or a place of ceremonies.
Olazabal Palace
This XNUMXth century building It has several shields on its facade belonging to the Olazábal family. Juan de Olazabal was secretary in the court of Felipe IV and also Accountant General of the Inquisition.
Church of Santa María de Arritokieta
This church is dedicated to the Virgin of Arritokieta, the patron saint of Zumaia. Apparently this building already existed in the XNUMXth century. In the church there is an image of the Virgin from the XNUMXth century. Next to this church a hospital was added.
Museums
The museums of Zumaia are not very well known, but they are a visit that we can make if we are in the town. The Zuloaga Museum is dedicated to the painter Ignacio Zuloaga. It is located next to the beach of Santiago. In this museum you can see works by the author and also by artists such as Goya or El Greco. The Beobide Museum is dedicated to the sculptor Beobide.
Zumaia Beaches
In the town of Zumaia there are two really beautiful beaches that are worth visiting. The Itzurun beach It is the place chosen by the producers of the 'Game of Thrones' series to represent Dragonstone, due to the peculiar rock formations found in it, which can simulate the skin of dragons with their scales. That is why there are many people who come to this beach to take photographs in the place where Daenerys disembarked when arriving at Poniente. Santiago beach is a shallow sandy area with marshes that is also a beautiful place to visit.
Flysch route
The Flysch Route is inspired by the flysch, which are the steep cliffs in rock that made this place was chosen to shoot the series of the moment. If you like hiking trails you can join this one. Near the Hermitage of San Telmo, the route begins on the Flysch cornice to enjoy the best views of the natural spaces of Zumaia. The outward journey lasts about 15 minutes and it is possible to return by the same place or we can go down to another viewpoint. You can also follow and do the entire route to Deba, which has a total of about 15 kilometers. This walk runs along rocky beaches and is really worth it for how beautiful it is. Of course, the tides must be taken into account, since you can only go through certain beaches if the tide is low. We must think the same if we are going to go back the same way.
San Sebastián
Zumaia is just 34 kilometers from the city of San Sebastián. In this city you can also visit some points of interest, such as the famous Playa de la Concha or the Miramar Palace. Its old town is also very beautiful, with the Calle Mayor and the Basilica of Santa María del Coro. In this historic area you can also have delicious pintxos.