Urnieta: Culture, Landscape and Basque Cider

Culture

Urnieta is home to the Ermita de Azkorte, which was inaugurated on 3 May 1973 and preserves the former chapel of the same name’s medieval pointed-arch entrance. It houses a 13th-century Christ that was originally from the former Ermita Santa Cruz de Azkorte.

The Aierdi farmhouse in Urnieta (Gipuzkoa) is listed as cultural heritage in the Monument category of the General Inventory of Basque Cultural Heritage. The Church of San Miguel is under special protection. Extensive construction work carried out on it at the end of the 15th century gave it its present size. The Ermita de Santa Leocadia is under basic protection; Santa Leocadia is the current name of the former Ermita San Juan Evangelista.

The Cromlech de Eteneta I is classified as a protected monument within the Oindi-Mandoegi megalithic station. The Onyi-Mandoegi megalithic station is classified as cultural heritage in the Monumental Complex category. The Way of St. James through the Basque Autonomous Community is classified as qualified cultural heritage in the Monumental Complex category. At the seles of Urnieta, the parcelling, enclosures, structure and buildings located within them are protected.

The Cemento Rezola Museum is located in the vicinity of Urnieta. The Eureka! Zientzia Museoa is a museum in the vicinity of Urnieta. The Fort of Santa Barbara is a fortress in the vicinity of Urnieta. Miramar Palace is a palace in the vicinity of Urnieta. The Palacio del Mar Aquarium in Donostia is a zoo in the vicinity of Urnieta. The El Torreón viewpoint is located in the vicinity of Urnieta.

The town’s history is thus reflected in religious buildings, rural cultural heritage and megalithic sites. Different periods remain legible in the buildings: the medieval pointed-arch entrance of the Ermita de Azkorte stands alongside its inauguration in 1973 and the venerated 13th-century Christ. San Miguel recalls the construction work at the end of the 15th century, while the current name Santa Leocadia refers to the former Ermita San Juan Evangelista.

The sites are also classified in different ways. Alongside individual monuments and protected religious buildings are a Monumental Complex, qualified cultural heritage and the protected historic structure of the seles. In the vicinity, museums, a fortress, a palace, a viewpoint and an aquarium classified as a zoo round out the cultural attractions.

Nature

The Leitzaran biotope is one of the specially protected areas in Urnieta. Adarra-Usabelartza is an area of natural interest with botanical value. The Eteneta menhir stands in the Agerreko zabala meadow on the ridge of the Adarra-Mandoegi massif. Mount Oindi is located in the vicinity of Urnieta and is listed as a mountain. Kontxa / La Concha Beach is located in the vicinity of Urnieta and is listed as a beach.

Other destinations include Errenteria, Zumaia, Altzola, Usurbil, Pasaia, Urretxu, Arechavaleta and Astigarraga.

Food and Drink

Founded by Miguel Setién around 1920 and still run by the same family, Setien Cider House offers a traditional Basque cider experience.

For the higher-level travel overview: Gipuzkoa.