During the Liberal Triennium (1820-1823), one of the first state customs offices in the Basque Country was established in a house in this area, symbolizing the first steps of the liberal State. However, this attempt at modernization was thwarted by the absolutist restoration of Ferdinand VII. Behind this initiative was General Gabriel de Mendizábal, a distinguished strategist born in Bergara and a key figure in the Napoleonic Wars. His mastery of the infantry square tactic, demonstrated at the Battle of Alba de Tormes (1809), foreshadowed the strategy that would ultimately seal Napoleon’s final defeat at Waterloo (1815).

The original tower of the Asu lineage still preserves traces of its medieval past, embodying the essence of noble residences. Among its most remarkable features are the narrow arrow-slit windows, the stone corbels that once supported wooden galleries or balconies, and the sturdy voussoir arches. In the 17th century, this house was home to Pedro de Echave Asu, a key figure in international maritime trade. Thanks to his family connections, he became the agent in Seville for his uncle, Juan Ramus de Asu, an influential knight in Lima. He also inherited the thriving Echave businesses, which had been active since the 16th century in shipbuilding, expeditions to Newfoundland, and trade with the Indies. Pedro de Echave Asu is also remembered for his tribute to his illustrious ancestor, Juan Sebastián Elcano. In 1671, he financed the commemorative plaque in honor of the great navigator, which can still be seen at the main entrance of the Church of San Salvador.

This site was once home to the Basurto family, one of Getaria’s most influential lineages in trade and seafaring. In the early 16th century, they played a key role in modernizing the fishing industry by introducing new trawl nets and almadrabas, while also investing in salt preservation and, from 1580 onwards, in pickling techniques. However, not all members of the family shared the same fate. Several of them perished in the ill-fated Spanish Armada expedition of 1588. By the 17th century, the Basurto family had expanded their maritime ventures. Juan Ortiz de Basurto invested in the construction of large whaling ships and galleons for the Carrera de Indias. His son Juan Ortiz and nephew Cristóbal carried on the family’s legacy, outfitting expeditions to Newfoundland and strengthening the Basque presence on transoceanic routes.

In the early 20th century, like many other homes in the area, the ground floor of the Enbil family house housed an anchovy salting factory. However, its true historical significance lies in being the birthplace of the renowned zarzuela singer Pepita Enbil (1918-1994). During the Spanish Civil War, Pepita toured Europe as a member of the prestigious Eresoinka choir. Between 1940 and 1945, she pursued her career at Madrid’s Teatro Calderón, where she co-founded the company “Ases Líricos” alongside other singers. In 1948, she moved to Mexico with her husband, baritone Plácido Domingo Ferrer, where they established a highly successful zarzuela company that captivated audiences across the Americas. From this union was born, in 1941, one of the most celebrated opera voices in the world: tenor Plácido Domingo Enbil.

This was once the home of Captain Baltasar de Urquiola, son of General Antonio de Urquiola. In the mid-17th century, a series of unfortunate financial transactions led to his downfall, and his assets were seized. Among them was a highly coveted treasure: the coat of arms and personal archive of Juan Sebastián de Elcano, which came into the possession of Pedro de Echave Asu. More than just a collection of documents, this archive was a symbol of honor and prestige. Even at that time, Elcano was recognized as a prominent historical figure—the navigator whose skill and determination ensured the successful completion of the first circumnavigation of the world.

This was once the main residence of General Antonio de Urquiola, known as "Guetaria". He was one of the most prominent generals serving in the Armada of Philip II during the final years of his reign. Records indicate that in 1592, he commanded a squadron of galleons, actively contributing to naval strategy at the time. After being appointed Superintendent of Shipyards and Naval Plantations, he spearheaded an ambitious oak reforestation program across the province to secure timber for shipbuilding. In 1598, he oversaw the construction of several galleons in the port of Pasaia, reinforcing the strength of the Spanish Armada.

This collection of palatial buildings is one of the best-preserved medieval structures in Getaria’s historic center, thanks to a recent restoration. It stands as the last remaining testimony of the grand residences that earned this street the nickname "Torracalea" (Street of the Towers), once home to renowned merchants and shipowners during the Middle Ages. The facades are distinguished by their arched doorways and, above all, by the delicate decoration of their twin windows, which resemble a similar example found on the rear facade of Zarautz Jauregia (Aldamar Street). Additionally, the rows of corbels on the facades likely supported wooden structures, such as galleries or balconies, which have since disappeared, adding to the architectural richness of the original buildings.

This plot was once the site of the house known as «Segura», property of the Campos lineage, a family of influential entrepreneurs who played a crucial role in driving the capitalist development of fishing in Gipuzkoa. In the 16th century, they invested in the import of new fishing nets from Nice, designed to achieve mass catches that would supply both the salting and pickling industries they also promoted. The products from this intensive fishing were destined for international markets, contributing to the growth of a far-reaching trade. The profits generated by this export activity were reinvested into diversifying their business ventures, including financing whaling expeditions, strengthening their influence in the maritime and commercial sectors of the time.

Cristóbal Balenciaga, born in Getaria, is undoubtedly one of the most revolutionary and influential designers in the history of haute couture. His humble birthplace, located on Aldamar Street, witnessed the early years of this fashion genius. He was the son of José Balenciaga Basurto and Martina Eizagirre Enbil, a seamstress who worked for, among others, the Aldamar family, the Marquises of Casa Torres, who would play a crucial role in the early stages of his career. The house, typical of late 19th-century fishermen's homes, is a simple and sober building made of stone, with small windows and minimal decoration. It has a ground floor and three upper levels, reflecting the simplicity and functionality of the traditional houses of the time. In 1907, Balenciaga left this home and moved to San Sebastián, where he began his career in fashion at some of the most prestigious tailoring shops in the Basque capital. Today, Balenciaga's legacy is celebrated in the nearby Aldamar Palace, which houses a museum dedicated to his figure and the revolutionary impact he had on the fashion world, a tribute to the creative genius of one of the great masters of haute couture.

House number 16 on Kale Nagusia, according to the inscription above its door, was rebuilt in 1842, after the conclusion of the First Carlist War in 1839. During this conflict, in 1835, the town of Getaria was besieged and systematically destroyed by Carlist siege artillery, which focused its assault particularly on this street, aiming to demoralize and terrorize the civilian population. Despite the devastation, the ground floor of this house survived the destruction and still displays traces of the beautiful house that once stood here before the war, one of many residences that lined the streets of Getaria. This house, along with its reconstruction, stands as a testament to the rebirth of the town, which rose from its ruins to become the Getaria we know today.

In this area, where rich urban houses from the 16th and 17th centuries are still preserved, stood the house of Pablo de Agote, known as "PabloenecThese two adjacent towers, located on the main street, together with the nearby church of San Salvador, form a highly valuable artistic and historical ensemble. Although both towers display typical features of Gothic architecture, such as vaulted doorways and pointed, twin windows, archaeological studies of the Zarautz tower revealed that the building is the result of successive expansions of a 14th-century tower, with parts of its facade dating back to the 17th century. Excavations carried out on the site also uncovered a valuable archaeological deposit, revealing traces of human presence from the 2nd century AD to the 20th century. This allowed the reconstruction of the history of this location from Roman times to the present day.

One of Getaria’s most charming spots is the chapel located beneath the main altar of the parish church of San Salvador, which serves as a crypt. Presided over by a 16th-century image of the Virgin of Piety, the chapel is visible through a wrought-iron arch situated in the middle of a tunnel affectionately called Pia-Pia by the locals. Inside, it houses the remains of Joaquín María de Barroeta-Aldamar and his wife. Don’t forget to follow the local tradition of tossing a coin inside while making a wish—whether it’s for tourists hoping to return to Getaria or for arrantzales (fishermen) praying for a good catch. The Virgin of Piety has long been held in high esteem by Getaria’s fishermen, even inspiring the name of a fishing boat: Beti Piedad (Always Piety).

The hermitage of San Prudencio is located in the neighborhood of the same name, situated on a hill behind the center of Getaria, along the coastal section of the Camino de Santiago that connects the town with the Askizu district. Although the first documented references to the hermitage date back to the 15th century, archaeological studies of the building revealed its medieval origins, as well as remains of a necropolis from that period. This modest, low-rise structure features a striking doorway on its southern façade, sheltered under a wooden portico. It is an ogival arch with Gothic lines, built with wide voussoirs and adorned with simple fluted decoration, along with rows of incised dots and circles. Inside, the hermitage houses images of San Prudencio and a Gothic sculpture of the Virgin and Child. According to tradition, a stone located at the head of the hermitage has miraculous properties, believed to relieve headaches.

During the early modern period, Getaria developed a new defensive system, broader and more robust than its medieval walls. The following elements remain visible today: Seaside wall section: Built in the first quarter of the 17th century, it successfully repelled the French landing attempt during the Battle of Getaria (August 23, 1638, part of the Thirty Years' War), thwarting Richelieu’s plans to conquer Gipuzkoa. “Tronpape”: The nickname of the fortified Sea Gate, located at the western end of the seaside front. Built from 1567 during the reign of Philip II, it featured an artillery platform, a bombproof vaulted passage, and a two-gun battery. “Katrapona”: An artillery platform on the eastern flank of the wall. The earliest known references to it date back to the first half of the 16th century. Bastion: Likely designed by military engineer Antonio Gandolfo, construction began after the Battle of Getaria in 1638 to reinforce the town’s maritime defenses and was completed during the War of Devolution (1667-1668). Today, the staircase descending to the port from Katrapona Square rests on this bastion, though its eastern front and decorative molding, protruding from the wall line, remain visible.

The fortification belt built in Getaria during the early modern period was designed to expand the town’s defenses and adapt them to new siege techniques. It had two main alignments: the seaward front, which protected the harbor, and the landward front, parallel to Mount Garate and originally preceded by a moat. Although much of the landward front was demolished in the late 19th century, several key elements remain visible: A section of the curtain wall, repurposed as the side wall of the frontón. The most remarkable view is at the rear, facing the Aldamar tower, where one of the four original gates from the early 16th-century wall can still be seen. Initially, the fortification had two circular towers at each end. The bastion designed by Antonio Gandolfo after the Battle of Getaria (1638) and completed in the late 17th century. It was built in response to the increasing inadequacy of the town’s defenses against artillery advancements and the strategic threat posed by the elevated position of Mount Garate. The bastion proved its effectiveness during several conflicts, including the War of the Pyrenees (1794), the Peninsular War (1808-1814), the Carlist siege of 1835-1836, and the last Carlist War (1872-1876). However, since 1922, it has undergone significant modifications to serve as the base for the Elkano monument, altering its original appearance.

Fort Gárate was the main stronghold of the fortification line built by the Carlist army to besiege Getaria during the last Carlist War (1872-1876). This defensive line stretched along the crest of Mount Gárate, from where the Carlists kept Getaria under constant bombardment. The fort witnessed key events in the course of the war. In 1874, two German warships bombarded it in retaliation for the Carlists of Zarautz capturing a German brig. Later, in 1876, it was stormed by the Liberal army, which had landed in Getaria. The amphibious assault launched from this location marked the beginning of the final offensive that led to the Liberal victory and the end of the war. Years later, in 1936, the fort was once again militarized by the Francoist army during the Spanish Civil War. Today, the fort is well preserved. Its moats, artillery platform, and small troop barracks—reinforced with a concrete roof during the Civil War—are still visible.

For centuries, the dock has been the economic engine of Getaria. The natural harbor formed by Mount San Antón facilitated maritime activities since Roman times, but by the 13th and 14th centuries, it had become insufficient. The expansion of trade, naval transport, and fishing in the waters of Galicia, the British Isles, and Iceland required increasingly larger ships, making the construction of adequate docks essential. Construction work began in the mid-15th century. To fund the project, King John II granted Getaria permission in 1452 to levy various taxes on trade conducted at the port. These funds enabled the construction of a dock that would sustain the town’s economy for centuries. The port infrastructure consisted of two main elements: the dock itself, sheltered by the island of San Antón, and the breakwater connecting it to the mainland, transforming Malkorbe Bay into an outer dock and turning San Antón into a peninsula. Getaria thus became the main refuge port of Gipuzkoa, capable of hosting entire war fleets. In fact, in 1638, the French navy attempted to seize the port, but their landing was repelled during the Battle of Getaria. Since 1919, the dock has undergone multiple expansions to reach its current form. However, remnants of the original dock can still be seen, supported by the slopes of San Antón and partially transformed into a launching ramp.

This striking neoclassical palace is particularly notable for its corner shield of the Asu family. In the mid-17th century, Pedro de Echave Asu, a captain of galleons, managed his uncle Juan Ramus de Asu's business in Seville, one of the leading knights in the city of Lima. Additionally, he inherited the businesses established by the Echave family since the mid-16th century, which included the construction of galleons, expeditions to Newfoundland, and trade with the Indies. As a descendant of Juan Sebastián Elcano, Pedro de Echave Asu made his familial connection evident in 1671, commissioning the installation of a commemorative plaque in honor of his renowned ancestor at the Church of San Salvador.

The rich ornamentation of this palace is a testament to its Baroque chronology and the economic power of its owners. Among the most striking features are the vegetal ornaments, such as pairs of palms crowning the door’s lintel, and the ogee arches of the windows on the ground floor. The other openings are notably large, leading out to balconies with wrought-iron railings. On the upper floor, two platbands define the space, inscribed with a Latin inscription, while at the center, a magnificent coat of arms stands out. The palace probably takes its name from Cristóbal de Basurto, who owned the plot at the turn of the 16th to 17th centuries. He spent some time in Mexico, where he acquired a silver estate in San Luis de Potosí, one of the main silver-producing centers for the Spanish Crown. The "Indian" returned to Getaria years later. However, when the palace took on its current form, it already belonged to the Echave Asu family. In 1794, during the War of the Convention, one of its members, José Fernando Echave Asu y Romero, was the General Deputy of Gipuzkoa. In this context, he declared his support for the French revolutionary Convention, proposing the creation of a satellite republic for Gipuzkoa.

The Parish of San Martín de Askizu is located in the rural neighborhood of Askizu, surrounded by vineyards, on the hill that overlooks the mouth of the Urola River, along the coastal Camino de Santiago route that connects the center of the town with Zumaia. It is considered one of the main examples of rural Gothic architecture in Gipuzkoa and the first manifestation of this style in the entire province. In the apse of the church, the remains of the original 13th-century apse can still be seen, with its characteristic twin windows typical of early Gothic style. Archaeological studies carried out on the building have confirmed that these remains date back to the 13th century. The church of San Martín, as it stands today, was built in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, showcasing late Gothic characteristics. Notable features include its pointed main doorway with simple, smooth archways and vegetal decorations, as well as the pointed vaults of its single nave. The aforementioned archaeological work also uncovered a necropolis with slate tombs, located both inside and outside the current temple, dated between the 11th and 14th centuries. However, the most significant discovery is that of a funerary chapel carved into the sandstone bedrock, containing anthropomorphic tombs also carved into the rock, dating back to the 6th century AD. These remains represent the oldest documented Christian temple and burial site found in Gipuzkoa to date.

One of the two daughters of Captain Martín de Mirubia, Doña Ángela Catalina de Mirubia, widow in 1713 of Don Juan Nicolás de Cardón, an important merchant from Donostia of Flemish origin, would undertake a crucial entrepreneurial activity in the history of Gipuzkoa. That year, she equipped the last Basque cod-fishing ship that sailed the waters of Newfoundland. She continued with Arctic expeditions aboard the whaler inherited from her husband until it was seized by the Navy in 1718 for the conquest of Sicily, where it was lost in the Battle of Cabo Passaro. However, in 1729, she became the first female entrepreneur to re-equip a whaler, thus starting the revival of the whaling activity in Gipuzkoa. The church of San Martín, in its current state, dates back to the late 15th and early 16th centuries and reflects late Gothic architectural features. Notable elements include its main pointed portal, with smooth archivolts and simple vegetal decorations, as well as the pointed vaults of its single nave. Recent archaeological work has uncovered a necropolis with slate tombs, located both outside and inside the present temple, dating from the 11th to the 14th century. However, the most significant discovery has been a funerary chapel carved into the sandstone rock, with anthropomorphic tombs also carved in the rock, dating back to the 6th century AD. This find represents the oldest documented Christian temple and burial site discovered so far in Gipuzkoa.

Aldamar Tower was the property of the Aldamar family, related to the lineage of the house of Zarauz. This old house-tower was known as "La Atalaya" and was rebuilt in the early 17th century into a vast palace complex. In 1625, historian Lope Martínez de Isasti described it as follows: "It is principal and ancient, and its owners served Emperor Charles V in Tunis and on other occasions with their ships…". The manor house was attached to the land-facing wall of Getaria, with orchards and various dependencies, including an imposing warehouse for cereals and other products. These were acquired through the extensive rents the Aldamar family collected, as well as through their commercial relationships. Today, the only surviving trace of the grand palace complex is the tower-warehouse building. The noble part, attached to the wall, was completely destroyed during the Carlist siege and subsequent assault on the town in 1835-1836. Despite the reforms, the tower still retains its sandstone ashlar walls, as well as a large semicircular archway that gives access to the warehouse, covered by an imposing vault.

On this site stood the tower that belonged to Miguel de Necolalde. Born in Urretxu (Gipuzkoa), he served as the General Supervisor of the Navy during the first half of the 17th century. In this position, he was responsible for the financial and logistical management of the naval forces stationed at the then-strategic border of Gipuzkoa. In 1633, he played a key role in the creation of the Royal Northern Squadron, a powerful naval corsair force that would challenge the maritime commerce of both the Netherlands and France. Starting in 1646, he focused on revitalizing the shipbuilding industry in Gipuzkoa, a crucial sector that had been severely impacted by the Franco-Spanish War that began in 1635.

The Torre de los Campos stood here, home to one of the most powerful families of fishing shipowners since the early 16th century. The Campos family created an innovative and effective business structure that drove the capitalist development of the fishing industry. In the early 16th century, they acquired large seine nets and fish traps, specializing in the fishing of sardines and anchovies. In this way, they boosted the salting industry of both species, which were exported to France and the Mediterranean region. From 1580 onwards, the family introduced the pickling industry of albur and, especially, of sea bream, exporting these products to major cities in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula.

Arriaundi is the name of a mythical site located on the ridge of Mount Garate. Its name, literally meaning "big rock," refers to a large block of sandstone that forms the natural stratum in the area. The legend surrounding this rock claims that visible footprints of the "amabirjinaren oinatzak" (the Virgin's footsteps) can be seen, believed to have been left by the Virgin on her journey to Itziar. According to the legend, the Virgin first stepped on this rock, then on the site where the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Arritokieta is located in Zumaia, and finally in Itziar. This legend is linked to the petroglyphs found on the rock, which include various cups, some natural and others artificial, which may have given rise to the myth of the Virgin's footprints. The sacred rock also contains various carved crosses, further evidence that Arriaundi has been a sacred site since time immemorial. In its vicinity, there are also two prehistoric burial mounds that make up the Arriaundi megalithic station, a testament to the historical and cultural significance of this place.

The Meagas highland is accessible from Zarautz, Zumaia, and Aizarnazabal. The current hermitage is a modern construction built in 1945, located next to the neighborhood schools. Its ashlar stone altar features representations of Christ, the Virgin, and Saint Isidore. Every year, the hermitage hosts celebrations in honor of Saint Isidore, the neighborhood’s patron, as well as the Palm Sunday procession. From this location, one can reach the nearby neighborhood of Elkano, and by heading towards Getaria, enjoy magnificent sea views.