San Sebastian as you have never imagined
Since the queen regent María Cristina made San Sebastián her summer bastion, the city has become one of the favorite destinations of the bourgeoisie and the rest of mortals.
Its beaches, its hot springs and its elegant architecture were the claim in the Belle Époque, to which we must now add a effervescent cultural movement and its consolidation as gastronomic capital. We let ourselves be guided by Basque Luxury, experts in discovering the pleasures that the Basque Country offers.
The Arima Hotel, with nature and sustainability as its flag
WHERE TO STAY
That the city is so fashionable has brought with it the opening of many luxury hotels.
The newest are the Hotel Arima , which coexists with nature and has sustainability as its flag, Villa Birdie , the former home of the Austrian consul transformed by the decorator Myriam Larrea into a luxury accommodation with only five rooms, Arrizul Congress , in the vibrant neighborhood of Gros, and the One Shot Hotel, located in the Tabakalera building.
the most classic they will prefer Villa Soro , a spectacular 19th century building that still preserves the park created by the gardener of the Royal House Pierre Ducasse , the Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra , the one that offers the best views of La Concha beach, or the Hotel María Cristina , the five stars par excellence.
For those looking to feel at home, Even when traveling, San Sebastián Housing's premium apartments are the ideal option.
Hotel Villa Soro, located in a 19th century building
CULTURE IN FULL BOILING
The city has made a clear commitment to the arts. While proudly celebrating the European Cultural Capital status in 2016, ** Tabakalera was inaugurated, the old tobacco factory transformed into an imposing cultural center that combines exhibitions, projections and meetings with spaces for creators.**
The other great museum dedicated to Basque culture and society is ** San Telmo , a 16th-century convent that has recently been enlarged**, where the canvases that Josep Maria Sert created in 1932 for his church stand out, as well as the collection of Fine Arts that includes works by Chillida and Oteiza, among others.
Also the private initiatives have taken center stage on the cultural scene: the Vetus Art gallery, for example, aims to represent and exhibit the next generation of contemporary Basque artists, including Víctor Goikoetxea and Iñigo Manterola.
There are also many recognized artists who have installed their atelier in San Sebastián and its surroundings, such as the Venezuelan Miguel Balliache , Frédéric Gutiérrez Barde , Jorge Cardarelli or Alfredo Bikondoa .
Work by Frédéric Gutiérrez Barde, one of the artists who has installed his atelier in San Sebastián
MORE THAN PINTXOS
San Sebastián is famous for its pintxos and Michelin-starred restaurants. Rivers of ink have been written about this. But the current gastronomic route also circulates through other places.
Every Thursday a crowd gathers at the San Martin Market ; the excuse is gastropote , the weekly event that brings together gastronomy, music and good atmosphere.
An excellent meal? Without a doubt, at La Fábrica, in the heart of the Old Town, a restaurant led by the Chef Inigo Bozal , very frequented by locals and foreigners.
An address to enjoy a few portions in the afternoon is La Taberna de Blas, right in the center. when night falls, the coolest place to dine is Gu San Sebastián , a bar-restaurant-club that occupies the entire top floor of the Royal Yacht Club , a jewel of rationalist architecture that offers a unique panoramic view of the bay.
The last drink of the night you have to take it in Dry San Sebastián, the bar of the Hotel Maria Cristina that bears the seal of the master of cocktails Xavier of the Muelas.
Dry San Sebastián, the bar of the Hotel María Cristina
TAILORED PURCHASES
In addition to the classic establishments, such as **the González Larrauri jewelry store,** which has been in operation for more than half a century, the current trend in San Sebastián is made-to-measure creations, both in jewelry and in fashion and accessories.
Komorebi is the brand that creates fully customized biker style clothing. Although they sell all over the world, their atelier is located in San Sebastián, and it is where customers can choose from the type of leather to the latest finishes.
The accessories The perfect ones are found at Atlantis, the boutique located on the same street where Cristóbal Balenciaga opened his first store a century ago. The bags and hats are handcrafted to suit the customer, making him a participant in the entire creation process.
Since 1935, the quintessential artisan jewelry It is Casa Munoa. Claudio Munoa, third generation of goldsmiths, is the one who continues to design each of the pieces, which they then create in their own workshop next to the store.
Artisanal jewel of Casa Munoa
FINE TUNNING
The tradition of San Sebastian as city-spa is well known. Today, people continue to visit the capital for the same purpose, but the trend has gone a step further and now there are more and more health and beauty specialists who offer their intensive care services to outsiders.
In non-surgical facial and body beauty treatments the Arruabarrena Clinic stands out. And in the multidisciplinary rehabilitation , the most recognized is Osasun Sport, the Sergio Sukunza clinic that cares for elite athletes and whose method has positioned it internationally.
With this wide offer that combines health, restaurants and culture, it is not surprising that tourism in San Sebastian is growing and becoming increasingly seasonally adjusted.
There are many sun and beach destinations, but cities like San Sebastián, which besides the beach offer endless pleasures for the body, mind and stomach, well worth a visit.
Gu San Sebastián, at the Real Club Naútico, with a unique panoramic view of the bay