ARTISTIC HERITAGE

1.-NARROS PALACE. Its coat of arms with the legend "Zarauz before Zarauz" refers to the existence of the lineage of the Zarauz family before the foundation of the town itself. It was built in 1536 following a Castilian style. It is entered through a round arch with big voussoirs. Side wings were added to it in the 19th century. There is a glazed courtyard inside and an English-style garden stands out in its beauty on the outside. It was the residence of Queen Isabel II and the illustrious jesuit Father Coloma, among other important personalities, also stayed here.

2.-TOWER-HOUSE OF THE ZARAUZ FAMILY. Of square groundplan, thick walls and good ashlar, it still preserves its defensive character. The few openings in the walls correspond to mullioned, geminate ogival and loophole windows. It dates from the end of the 14th-15th centuries. In the 17th c. the top floor was added to it in order to fit in the belfry.

3.-THE PARISH CHURCH SANTA MARIA LA REAL. Its construction began in the 16th c., but it has been greatly transformed throuhghout the centuries. The Gothic image of Nuestra Señora la Real (Our Royal Lady) is worshipped here. Inside, we must point out the altarpiece made by Andrés and Juan Araoz, which dates form after 1560, and which rises from a stone platform consisting of a frieze, four sections and five vertical paths. The tomb of Lopez Martinez de Zarauz, counsellor of Enrique IV, is carved in with the coat of arms of the Zarauz-Gamboa lineage and it is decorated with diverse tracery and heraldic animals. We must also mention two small altarpieces of the 17th c., one of them formerly devoted to the Virgin of the Rosary and the other to Saint Exuperio, both of which are attributed to Ambrosio de Bengoetxea.

4.-LUZEA TOWER. This is an outstanding building, regarded as the best example of secular Gothic style of the 15th c. in Gipuzkoa. This tower-house-made of ashlar-consists of three floors. The eaves are supported by modillions. On the fronts, the trefoil arch Gothic windows with mullion, the steps and the coat of arms are worth mentioning.

5.-MONASTERY AND CHURCH OF THE FRANCISCAN FATHERS. This is a church "in the Franciscan style", with big pillars. The monastery was founded by Juan de Mancisidor, secretary of Felipe III, and was plundered by the French in 1794. In its interior, it contains a library from whose collection the books devoted to Basque Literature deserve special interest. The original transept of the 15th-16th c., of fluted pillar ending up in abacus capital, has been situated in the place indicated in the plan.

6.-SANTA CLARA NUNNERY. It was founded by Maria de Zarauz y Gamboa in 1611 and it was the first nunnery of the Order of St Clare in the province. Its construction took from 1618 to 1625. Austere in its lines and with the walls clearly prevailing over the openings, this building complies with the rules of the Mendicant Orders. The church follows a Latin-cross pattern and, stylistically, it belongs in the Baroque. This nunnery was also damaged during the French invasion in 1794. The most important restoration works were carried out in 1985.

7.-PORTU HOUSE. Now it is the Town Hall. This beautiful three-storey rectangular building was the home of the Portu family, who came from Aia, in the 16th c. The front door, fit into a framework of Corinthian columns, the two fluted pilasters on the corners and the coats of arms symmetrically placed between the balconies deserve our attention.

8.-DOTOREKUA HOUSE. This building, in its 16th century severity and sobriety, fully corresponds to the style of the Basque stately home. Due to its coat of arms, we know that it belonged to a branch of the Zarauz family.

9.-MAKATZA HOUSE. Built with dressed stone and extensively restored, this building still retains its air of fortress and tower-house. Round arches and loopholes can be seen on the side front.

10.-MALLA-ARRIA ORE LOADING POINT. It was built by Guillermo Vahl and it was used both as ore warehouse and loading bay. The iron ore was transported from the mines of Andazarrate (Asteasu) along overhead cables. It stopped operating in1923.

11.-SANTA BARBARA ROMAN ROAD. According to Gonzalo Arias, it could have been part of the Via Agrippa, which stretched all along the Cantabrian coast as far as Asturias. This road is paved with blocks of sandstone measuring 44cm long, 34cm wide and 24cm high.

12.-SANTA BARBARA CHAPEL. It was completely restored in 1995. In its interior, this rectangular chapel of plastered rubblework walls crowned by a bell gable contains a small altarpiece and a painting representing the saint with her iconographic attributes. The mass dedicated to St Barbara is said on the 4th of December.

13.-SANZ ENEA. Although this is an eclectic building, it is a beautiful example of the big summer stately homes of the 19th century. Its symmerical front and the two floors ending up in attics give it a French appearance. This building is used for cultural purposes and the Library, the Municipal Archives and the Exhibition Rooms are located in its interior.

14.-VILLA MUNDA. This beautiful 19th c. building is eclectic in style. It stand on the site of the ancient cemetery of the town and doctor Pedro Gonzalez de Velasco ordered its construction. Surrounded by a charming garden, it is used as the municipal music centre and the Municipal Band has its headquarters here.

15.-ZUAZO-ENEA HOUSE. Although it has been restored and turned into flats, this magnificent building from 1963 still keeps the original modern architectural aim of its maker, Secundino Zuazo, who, using such traditional material as the bare brick, combined it with Neogothic ornamental motifs in white limestone to achieve a clearly chromatic effect.

16.-THE VISTA ALEGRE PARK ROTUNDA. This classic-style semicircular fortified tower has a monumental character. It was the first building built with reinforced concrete in the town (1913). It is one of the few examples of the rotundas that still exist in the country and it serves the purpose of a wonderful vantage point, from which a splendid panoramic view of the town can be enjoyed.

17.-VARIOUS COATS OF ARMS AND EMBLEMS. This town has never forgotten its past fishing and sailing tradition. The figure of the whale and whaling scenes have been preserved in carvings in different coats of arms and emblems of the town. We must point out the one situated at Azara Street 2 (of Gothic legacy and showing the emblem of the Zarauz-Gamboa) and the coat of arms at Azara 17. The whale is also present in the coat of arms of town of Zarauz, together with the lion rampant and the castle.

18.-BUILDINGS OF INTEREST. We strongly advise the visitors to leisurely stroll up and down the streets-Nagusia, Trinitatea,Zigordia, Nafarroa, Orape, Ipar...-to stop and have a look at the different buildings that may catch their eye because of their construction, facede or date.

19.-THE TRAIN STATION. The combination of dressed stones, rubblework and bricks in this industrial 19thc. building of Anglosaxon appearance achieves evident chromatic effects. This detached rectangular building has two floors and an attic covered with double-sloping roof.

20.-VISTA ALEGRE PARK. Its interest stems from the beauty of this landscape and its ecological value due to the wide variety of tree species -up to 56 different species- , among which we should mention the magnificent liquidambars, Virginia tulip trees, specimens of Gingko Biloba and different species of cedar and cypress trees.

21.-MUTXIO PARK. This small one-hectare municipal park contains curious specimens of strawberry trees, laurels, pines, stone pines, oak trees... .From here you can walk up to the St Barbara chapel.

22.-SANTA MARINA CHAPEL. The original chapel was built by Marina Alzuru in 1610, being substituted by another one, located on the present site in 1932. The front, with its pinnacles and pointed archs leads into the inner part, in which we can find the Santa Marina Virgin as well as a crucified Christ and an image of St Apolonia. The only service celebrated here is held on May the 21st.

23.-SAN PELAYO CHAPEL. The old 16th c. St Pelayo chapel was knocked down in the mid 19th c. and the one that stands now was erected thanks to the Marquis of Narros. It was built bu J.J. de Belaunzaran in 1844, using sandstone. Walking in through its Neoclassical front, we can find the image of the saint that, along with a Guardian Angel, are both the work of Hilarion Zabalza, dating from the second half of the 17th century. In 1979 Xabier Egaña made a pictorial-sculptural mural. The central sculpture was made by Tomas Murua.

24.-OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST IN THE SURROUNDINGS. The chapel of St Martin de Ibaeta in the district of Talaimendi, dating from the 16th c., contains an 18th c. image of the saint, clad as a bishop. The rectangular church of St Sebastian in the Urteta district dates from the 15th c. and it is made of ashlar, with a double-sloping roof topped by an 18th c. bell gable. Its beautiful porch supported by timber beams is outstanding. Inside, there are figures of Crucified Christ, St Sebastian and the Virgin of the Rosary. The 16th c. church of San Pedro de Elcano was made of sandstone and tradition has it that it was the primitive parish church of Zarauz. We should note the interesting Gothic windows and a rose window situated in the sanctuary. We should also have a look at the 16th c. stone baptismal font. It still has a defensive appearance.