Celebrations are another sign of the Basque identity. In the three capitals of the region, the "Semana Grande” (the great week) is celebrated on consecutive days in summer. Between August 4th and 9th Vitoria-Gasteiz celebrates a particular festive day, the Celebrations of the White Virgin. After 6 days of fun, the celebrations arrive at their final day, the 9th of August, with the Ascent of Celedón.

The “Aste Nagusia” of Bilbao is an must-see for all those who want to discover the festive spirit of this city in 10 days. These celebrations begin the first Saturday after the festivity of Nuestra Senora Begoña on August 15th.

In San Sebastián a Great Week is also celebrated during the summer, but the celebration most characteristic of this city is the Tamborrada. It begins at January 20th and for 24 hours the city is one big party, with drums and barrels. Joy and good humour overflow the city.

In the city of Irún, the Show of San Marcial is celebrated on June 30th, a celebration that commemorates the local victories in the wars against the French neighbors. The citizens, uniformed and wearing red berets, organize themselves in companies and, directed by a horse mounted general, they unload their guns into the air.

Basque gastronomy enjoys great international prestige. It is famous for its richness and variety, with typical dishes like hake cocochas, marmitaco and other extraordinary dishes with fish, prepared on live coal or in sauces of diverse types, like “pil-pil cod,” “Byscaine cod,” “chipirones” or “hake in green sauce.”

To accompany these fine gastronomical suggestions we can take a wine of great quality, the one from Alavese Rioja. Other traditional drinks of the region are cider and Chacolí. While talking of Basque gastronomy we should not forget to mention the Gastronomical Societies, which are spread all over the region. Without them it would be difficult to explain the popular roots of the gastronomic culture in the region. In these Societies men cook for their friends and relatives, in this way making gastronomy the base of social relations. Basque Country has gained fame all over the world for the quality of its traditional gastronomy, as well as for the imagination of its new vanguard gastronomy. In the 70’s, arose, from a group of young cooks eager to innovate and to extend the menu of the traditional gastronomy, what came to be known as the New Basque Gastronomy. Some of these cooks have become authentic media stars.

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Hotels in San Sebastian

Bilbao Museums

Gastronomy Pinchos