Villabona: Cultural Heritage, Hiking Trail and Txakoli

Together with Amasa, Villabona includes a hillside district with a strongly rural character. The Zubimusu Bridge was built over the Oria River; it connected Villabona with Zizurkil, Anoeta and Asteasu and is an important cultural heritage element of the historic transport infrastructure.

Culture and History

In Amasa stands Andretegi, a large farmhouse with elements of the Gothic style. The church of San Martín de Tours there was built between the 16th and 18th centuries and has an octagonal tower and an octagonal apse with two windows featuring Gothic tracery. At San Martín de Tours, the octagonal shape therefore characterizes both the tower and the apse, while the two tracery windows belong to the apse. The Santa Cruz Chapel was the area's first parish church and offers views over the valley.

The 19th-century Subijana House housed textile workshops. Etxe Ondo was the residence of the contemporary Basque artist Vicente Ameztoy. The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was built over the former Chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Piedad.

The Subijana y Compañía complex comprises the entrepreneur's residence, office spaces and hydraulic infrastructure. These three components together form the complex and reflect its different architectural functions. The Aljibe de Villabona was restored and inaugurated as an exhibition hall in July 2010. Subijana Etxea was transformed and renovated into a focal point of Basque culture in Villabona, bringing the services of the Asociación de Amigos del Bersolarismo together in one place and providing interested individuals and institutions with a service for bertsolaritza.

Trails and Activities

The PR-Gi 118 “Paseo de los canales” hiking trail is 15.5 km long and has a maximum elevation difference of 310 m. It begins behind Villabona's parish church. The starting point can be reached by RENFE commuter train via Villabona-Zizurkil station, by an interurban bus on the San Sebastián–Tolosa route or by private vehicle. The trail can be walked at any time of year.

Otsabi Park in Villabona has a pump track for cycling techniques and jumps. Among Villabona's particularly notable sporting features are its rebote championships. Rebote is a variation of Basque pelota, played on an open court, and it is still practiced in Villabona.

Villabona's patron saint's festival is Santiago and takes place on 25 July. Amasa-Villabona is also one of the places historically connected with the Royal Road and through which the Inland Route of the Way of Saint James passes.

Wine and Basque Cuisine

HIKA combines a modern Txakoli winery surrounded by vineyards in a rural setting with a restaurant whose cuisine is based on local products. HIKA Winery offers a vineyard visit with a tasting of Txakoli and Basque cuisine.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

Antzuola, Azkoitia, Andoain, Segura, Mendaro, Hondarribia, Debabarrena, Orio

For the overarching travel overview: Gipuzkoa.