Getaria in Basque (delivery " Guetaria") or Spanish Guetaria in is a city and a commune in the province of the Guipúzcoa, located in the Basque autonomous Communauté in Spain.

• surface = 10,6 km ²

• altitude = from 0 to 278 meters
• distance = to 24 km of Saint-Sebastien
• founded in 1209
• population = 2  547 hab., 2005
• density = 240,28 hab. /km ²

Geography

The commune of Getaria occupies a portion of the central coast of Guipuzcoa, at the edge of the Cantabric Mer. This portion is formed by a escarpée cornice in which a series of handles and points were formed because of erosion. The urban center of Getaria is located close to the mountain of San Antón, which until the XVI century was an island. It is in the low part located at the sea level, that the port is. The silhouette of the mountain San Antón resembles a mouse, the locality of Getaria is hidden by its shade. Therefore the mountain San Antón is more known with the nickname of the Mouse of Getaria, which forms one of the most common postcards that all Guipuzcoa. Towards the interior one finds the mountain Gárate (278 m), which runs parallel at the Basque coast and in which are what is called " caseríos of Getaria ". All the ground located between Gárate and the sea is sown vineyards (txacoli) being given the microclimate which exists in the zone. The Gárate mountain occupies the center of the commune. Getaria is limited to north with the Cantabric sea, south-west with Zumaya, the east with Zarauz and the south with Aya, Aizarnazábal and with small enclaves of Zarauz. The locality of Zarauz is distant only from 5 km.

Intercommunality

The common one belongs to the Basque Eurocité Bayonne - San Sebastian.

Etymology

The two villages of Guéthary and Getaria have a similar geographical location in common and are coastal localities of marine long tradition; consequently it proved to be necessary historically to seek with these names an etymology in connection with the marine activity. One of the explanations traditionally given is that it was necessary to derive the name from both locality of the Gascon word " guaita" who means " the montre". It should be held account that during the Middle Ages, several villages of the Basque Côte were colonized by the Gascons and among them one finds both " Getaria". It was thought that " Getari" between guaita - ari could be a composition a suffix which is used in the Basque language for the offices.

History

Getaria is a marine city since the Middle Ages where the majority of the population was devoted to the hunting of the whale. January 5th, 1597 there was a fire in which 150 houses burned. But in 1628 a naval battle between the France and the Spain takes place in its bay, much of Spaniards died and the city remained ravaged. Since the Middle Ages until the current time, Getaria was the best wearing of refuge in the border zone with France. The mountain of San Antón, the port and the group of houses of the people, initially were a separate island of the coast. At the XV century one then started the construction of the quay of union between two spaces and a port for the ships of the place was created. The urban plan of Getaria is of the rectangular type. In theory the residences were of wood. During the medieval time one builds some stone-built houses, palates urban or house-turn. Being given the long story of this population, it is logical to find buildings representative of various times. It is probably about the one of the cores of medieval origin which reflects the passage of time best. The quality of the buildings, the urban harmony, and other factors, make of Getaria a privileged place of the geography of Guipuzcoa. The port of Getaria has today a suitable infrastructure for fishing and tourism (many gourmet restaurants).

fishing

Getaria is a locality which is at the seaside. At the XII century before the construction of its parishes, Getaria had its fishing port in the island of San Antón. To the Middle Ages, the inhabitants of the city devoted themselves to the hunting of the whale. The product of this activity is its escutcheon: a whale with a harpoon nailed with the back.

Characters related to the commune

• Balenciaga (1895-1972), dressmaker.
• Juan Sebastián Elcano (1476-1526), explorer.

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