Page 125 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

BASQUE C OUNTR Y , NA V ARR A & LA RIOJA  123

Basque fishermen depicted in the stained-glass ceiling of the Casa de Juntas in Gernika-Lumo
chapel where the parliament 3 Costa Vasca house. It passes Bermeo, a port
of the province of Vizcaya Vizcaya & Guipúzcoa. @ Bilbao. with a fishery museum, the Museo
reconvened in 1979, when the £ Bilbao. n Getxo, 94 491 08 00. del Pescador, and Mundaka, a
Basque provinces regained small surfing re sort. On the serene
their autonomy. In one room The Basque country’s 176 km Ría de Guernica there are two
a stained-glass ceiling depicts (110 miles) of coastline is heavily sandy beaches, Laida and Laga.
the Oak of Gernika with Basque indented: rugged cliffs alternate At the fishing port of Lekeitio,
citizens debating their rights. with inlets and coves, backed by old Basque houses line the
The Europa Park, next door, wooded hills. Some of the fishing seafront below the 15th-century
has peace sculptures by Henry vil lages are overdeveloped, but church of Santa María. One long
Moore and Eduardo Chillida. the scenery inland is attractive. beach, good for swimming,
There are good beaches north sweeps round the village of
Environs of Algorta (near Bilbao). Plentzia is Saturrarán and the old port
Five km (3 miles) northeast a pleasant estuary town with a of Ondarroa. The Lekeitio–
of Gernika, near Kortézubi marina. Eastwards on the coast is Ondarroa road is lined with pines.
(Cortézubi), are the Cuevas de Bakio, a large fishing village. Zumaia is a beach resort with
Santimamiñe. On the walls of Beyond it the BI3101, a dramatic an old quarter. In the Espacio
a small chamber are charcoal corniche road, winds high above Cultural Ignacio Zuloaga, the
drawings of animals made by the sea past the tiny island her mit- former home of the well-known
cave dwellers around 11,000 BC. age, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Basque painter who lived from
Discovered in 1917, the drawings and Matxitxaco, a headland light- 1870 to 1945, colour ful studies of
cannot be seen, but replicas are Basque rural and maritime life
projected on the walls at the are on display. Getaria, along the
entrance. For conservation coast, is spread steeply around a
reasons the caves are closed to fishing port, and has lively cafés
the public, but a 3D simulation in and the 14th-century Iglesia de
the nearby hermitage offers an San Salvador. Zarautz, once a
impressive virtual reproduction. fashionable resort, has sizable
Guided visits last 90 minutes and beaches and elegant mansions.
must be booked in advance.
E Museo del Pescador
P Casa de Juntas Plaza Torrontero 1. Tel 94 688 11 71.
Calle Allende Salazar. Tel 94 625 11 38. Open Tue–Sun. Closed public hols.
Open daily. Closed 1 & 6 Jan, 16 Aug, & (free last Thu of the month). 7
24, 25 & 31 Dec. 8 book ahead. 7
E Espacio Cultural
T Cuevas de Santimamiñe Ignacio Zuloaga
Kortézubi. Tel 944 65 16 57. Santiago Etxea 4, Zumaia. Tel 677 07
Open daily (Oct–Apr: Tue–Sun). Anglers on the quayside at Lekeitio, a port 84 45. Open Apr–Sep: 4–8pm Wed–
& 8 book ahead. on the Costa Vasca Sun; other times by appt. & 8

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