By Judy J. Pinegar  Pictures by John J. O’Dell

Upon arriving in San Sebastian by bus from the airport, we quickly found our lodgings in the Parte Vieja (old city). A quick walk and we were at the shell shaped beach, Bahia de la Concha, lots of  boats docks and shipyards were to the right and to the left the beach and the newer part of the city. The City Hall was a very conspicuous building in the middle (formerly a gambling hall that went out of business when they changed the laws to disallow gambling)! Then a garden of strange trees, which we learned were imported from Paris.

Quite near or lodgings we found a baroque style church, Saint Mary of Assumtion,  that was built in the second half of the 18th century. This was the third church built on this site. The first of Roman style was built about the middle of the 12th century, the second, Basque Gothic style in the middle of the 16th century.

Both earlier sites were burnt down due to fires from the surrounding area as well as military attacks, as it was located directly below the Castle or Urgull, a military fort. The exterior shows a magnificent rococo style facade.  In the interior, the main alter was by Diego de Villanueva and above is the large painting of the martyrdom of St Sebastian. Other alters include Our Lady of Solitude and St Catherine.

On the side in the back was The Chapel of Christ of Peace and Patience with a 16th century statue of Christ which used to be at the gates to the city.

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