Fuenterrabia

From Cabo Higuer, the beach and city of Fuenterrabia (Hondarribia) appear close at hand and well protected by the estuary. But Fuenterrabia must be visited and studied in detail for it is one of the beautiful and historical cities of this coast. Presiding over the town is an ancient fortress restored in the 16th Century by Carlos V, which will remind the traveller that he is close to a border post. In the surroundings, the narrow streets flanked by old Renaissance and Baroque mansions of huge carved eaves and splendid wrought iron balconies compose an urban center which can serve as the perfect backdrop for any episode of the glorious past, when rich galleons and caravels crowded into Fuenterarabia's harbour. The fishermen's quarter is naturally a fine example of Basque seaboard architecture, always defined by great wooden balconies painted with bright colours. Each one of the quarters shares the heroic reputation of the Fuenterrabia sailors, the daring whalers who followed the routes of the Vikings in the 13th century. They became familiarised with the Terranova Peninsula and founded factories along its coats. It seems the harpooners of Fuenterrabia (as those of Zarauz, Guetaria, Motrico and other Guipuzcoa cities which include a whale in their coats of arms) were famous in the English and Dutch ports until whale hunting came to an end along this coast in the 18th century. Ramparts of palaces date back to those times and it was then that the city took on the appearance which helps it to conserve, even today, its noble and seaboard atmosphere.