3rd Stage - Donostia-Orio

Distance in Km: 16 km

A magnificent picture postcard view of San Sebastian greets the traveller, with Zurriola beach and Mount Urgull in the background.

A magnificent picture postcard view of San Sebastian with Zurriola beach and Mount Urgull in the background greets the weary traveller who can find a hostel next to the beach as part of the Ikastola Jakintza, although it is only open in July and August. The rest of the year, the Sirena youth hostel, on the other side of the city, will make room for us. From Zurriola beach we go into the city through the Gros district and we come across the famous Kursaal Congress Hall, designed by the prestigious architect Rafael Moneo, the Victoria Eugenia theatre and the María Cristina Hotel, until we reach the Boulevard.

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PROFILE

Kursaal Congress Hall, San Sebastian

Victoria Eugenia theatre, in San Sebastian

Plaza de la Constitución, in the old part of San Sebastian

On one side we have the historical centre, including the port (central to trade in San Sebastian from the Middle Ages until the end of the last century), the Aquarium, the Naval Museum, the San Telmo museum, the Plaza de la Constitución, the Santa María del Coro Basilica and the oldest building in the city, St Vincent's church.

Outside the old part of San Sebastian, we take the Paseo de la Concha, noticing the English style Miramar Palace at the far end that provided a summer residence for the royal family from 1893 to 1930. It was built in the 19th century on the ruins of a former convent that welcomed numerous pilgrims in former times. Afterwards, we go along Ondarreta towards the road that climbs Mount Igeldo. This is an obligatory step, not only for its views, but because pilgrims head towards Orio from here.

After a gentle stroll mid slope along rural paths parallel to the coast, we reach the first homesteads belonging to the town of Orio, and then the asphalt road. Dropping down, we will take an old road that guides us to the St Martin de Tours hermitage, just before the Orio old town that holds a beautiful Plateresque image of the Patron Saint and whose porch was used as a pilgrim hospital.