Durango, what to see and do.

Durango, what to see and do in the most important urban center of Durango.

Durango, one of the most important urban centers of the Duranguesado region, Durangaldea in Basque, has a beautiful collection of places to see and enjoy. This town is protected by the Urkiola Natural Park and crossed by the Mañaria River, 2 natural elements that make Durango possess an environment of great natural value. The beauty of this place adds to the impressive architectural and cultural heritage found in this part of the Basque Country. In fact, the historic center of Durango is an epic space that leaves its mark. And in its interior it keeps monuments and buildings that we are sure you will fall in love with.The natural environment that surrounds Durango is one of its greatest attractions. Emblematic mountains such as Anboto (1.331m), Alluitz (1040m) or Mugarra (964m) surround Durango encouraging us to make all kinds of routes. We recommend you to choose the route that best suits your tastes and needs and enjoy a nice walk through this incredible natural landscape.Are you ready to know Durango with us?

San Fausto, the patron saint festivities of Durango, take place in mid-October. It is one of the most awaited events of the year, together with the famous Durango Fair (Durangoko Azoka in Basque), an event of great cultural importance that takes place annually at the beginning of December. A magnificent place to buy a book, a record or any other format in our language, in Basque. Undoubtedly one of the most important events of Basque culture.

What to see in Durango.

Durango has spaces of great interest scattered throughout its urban core. A series of spaces that we recommend you to visit with your eyes closed. Here is a small summary of what for us are the must-see places in Durango. We hope you like them.

Plaza de Santa Ana: The Plaza de Santa Ana is one of those must-see places on any trip to Durango. In this enclave we find the only gate that remains standing of the old wall that protected this urban center, the church of Santa Ana, the Arribi Palace, the Zabala house, the Old Mill of Santa Ana and the Lejarza Palace. Undoubtedly a place with great historical value. This square was restored in 2009.

Church of Santa Ana: The church of Santa Ana is one of the most emblematic buildings that we find in the square of the same name. This temple, built after the demolition of a 15th century church that was located in the same square, is one of the most important religious structures in Durango.

Arch of Santa Ana: Historically, the urban center of Durango had a wall that protected its inhabitants. To enter and leave the town it was necessary to go through one of its 6 gates: the market or Santa Ana gate, the Christ or Kurutziaga gate, the Olmedal or San Pedro gate, the Zabala or San Juan gate, the Walnut or San Martín gate and the Piedad gate. As you can see the Arch of Santa Ana was one of them. The name Puerta del Mercado (Market Gate) was due to the fact that it was the gate through which all the merchandise entered. We must emphasize that the door we see today is not the original, but a construction of the eighteenth century that replaced its predecessor.

Basilica Santa Maria de Uribarri: This temple represents one of the most striking spaces in Durango. A building, which, considered by many as one of the most important works of Euskadi, is listed as a National Monument. One of the most important elements of the basilica is its enormous portico, the largest in the Basque Country. But the interior is also worth a visit. The altarpiece, the Gothic carving of Andra Mari de Uribarri or the choir are some of the most important elements found inside. This basilica was razed to the ground by flames during the bombing that Durango suffered on March 31, 1937.

Municipal Market: The Durango Municipal Market is a great place to buy local products, km 0. A space that we recommend you to visit to contemplate its architecture and its products. A great opportunity to do some sightseeing while acquiring seasonal products.

Ezkurdi Square: Ezkurdi Square is located in the center of the town, in the heart of Durango. The arrival of the train in 1882 made this enclave gain prominence in the daily life of Durango. It was undoubtedly the nerve center of the town. Its fronton, its bars and hotels were proof of this. A space that, after suffering with its last remodeling, unleashed an avalanche of complaints against this urban project. Today it is still a reference space in Durango. A place that, together with the bandstand, the sculptures, the Euskotren station and the rest of the elements that make up the park, offers us a place where we can enjoy the present while we look at the past. And it is that the last existing fragment of the old fronton leaves between to see the great space that came to be in the past.

Statue of Fray Juan de Zumarraga: In the already mentioned Ezkurdi Square we find the statue of Fray Juan de Zumarraga. First bishop of Mexico. Known for bringing the printing press to America in the 16th century and for his stance against the slavery of the Indians. This sculpture has adepts and retractors. And it is that we must indicate that there are many controversies formed by his alleged abuses against the Indians.

Museum of Art and History: The Museum of Art and History of Durango is located in the Etxezarreta Palace, a baroque palace that in addition to housing the permanent and temporary exhibition of the museum also houses the Crime History Center of Durango. Among his works highlights the model that recreates the Durango of the fifteenth century. Admission to this museum is free.

Casa Torre de Lariz: This tower house built in the 15th century and restored in 2009 is one of the jewels of the palatial architecture of Durango. Throughout history, the Lariz Tower House has served different purposes. An example of this is the prison that it housed in the nineteenth century or the residential house that occupied it before being restored in the twenty-first century.

City Hall: The City Hall of Durango is perhaps one of the most striking town halls in the whole historical territory of Bizkaia. It is also one of the oldest in the province. Its colorful and its arches are not the original ones of the XVI century. And it is that after the bombing it was seriously damaged. It was in 1945 when it was rehabilitated and enlarged, remaining practically as we can see it today. The current paintings are a copy of those created by the artist Ignacio de Zumarraga in 1772.

Kurutzesantu Museum: This museum in Durango is famous for housing the Kurutziaga Cross. A striking cross carved between the fifteenth and sixteenth century that has been listed as a Historic Artistic Monument. Experts do not agree on the function of this cross. Nor do they do so when it comes to establishing the reasons for its construction. Some say that it is an expiatory monument, others that it is a cult to the brotherhood and hermitage of the Vera Cruz and a few that it fulfilled bordering functions of the town marking the frontier limit. In any case, the beauty of the Cross of Kurutziaga attracts thousands of people to this museum every year. We must indicate that this building besides lodging the Cross of Kurutziaga also lodges the office of tourism of the villa.

Urkiola Natural Park: The striking and beautiful limestone peaks of the Urkiola Natural Park are visible from different corners of the town. Durango is only 8 km away from this emblematic natural paradise. Its most famous summit, Anboto, has great importance in Basque culture. It is said that on its northern slope is the cave of Mari, the lady of Anboto. One of the most important beings in Basque mythology. We should also pay special attention to the Sanctuary of Urkiola, a temple to which the Basques have made an annual pilgrimage (January 17) to enjoy a great festive atmosphere.

San Agustin Cultural Space: Known as San Agustin Kultur gunea, in Basque, this theater hosts a large number of shows throughout the year. Undoubtedly one of the most representative cultural spaces of the town. The building originally housed the San Agustín Convent, a 17th century building built by the Augustinian order.

Landako Gunea: This fairground space, popularly known as “multipurpose” or “Landako”, has an open space that has been designed to offer events of all kinds. Among all these events, Durangoko Azoka, the Durango fair, stands out. An event of great importance in the daily life of the Basque culture. Landako Gunea was inaugurated in 2003 with more than 4,000 square meters to host fairs, festivals, exhibitions, concerts and many other events. The chimney that we find next to this enclosure is the only surviving vestige of the old Olma Foundation.

Church of San Pedro de Tabira: This church is one of the oldest in Bizkaia. The temple we find today was built over a medieval church that already occupied this same location. In the XV, XVI and XVII centuries it was modified, enlarging its capacity and adding typical elements of the time.

Plateruena Kafe Antzokia: Plateruena Kafe Antzokia has been for years one of the most important cultural spaces in the town of Durango and the Durangaldea region. The home of thousands of cultural shows in Basque. Unfortunately, this space has closed its doors due to the covid pandemic crisis. The building in which this café theater was located was the old slaughterhouse of the town built in 1884.

Idolo de Mikeldi: The sculpture of the Idolo de Mikeldi found in Durango is nothing more than a representation of the original. A copy. Although this piece was found near where this sculpture is located today, we must point out that the original is in the Basque Museum of Bilbao. This zoomorphic sculpture of sandstone representing an animal imprisoning a disc between its legs is dated to the II Iron Age. Undoubtedly one of the most important pieces in the history of Durango.

Ermita de la Magdalena: This small hermitage was built in the 19th century on the site of the old church of La Magdalena and the hospital of San Lazaro.

Shrapnel: Kurutziaga Street, the street where we find the tourist office, was the central axis of the bombing of Durango. A street that, taking the Basilica of Santa Maria de Uribarri as a reference, led the Italian planes directly to their target, the railroad station. They wanted to destroy all possible communications. This attack carried out by the Italian aviation left great aftermath along Kurutziaga Street. An example of this are the holes that we can see in the building that we find in front of the tourist office, next to the Garai Palace.

Birthplace of the founder of Montevideo: Bruno Maurizio Zabala y Cortazar, founder of Montevideo, capital of Uruguay, was born in Durango. A plaque on the façade of the house where he was born in 1682 reminds us of his birthplace. This house, which adjoins the Museum of Art and History, is not in its original state, but it still preserves several characteristics typical of the Biscayan palaces of the time.

Church of San Jose: The church of San Jose, popularly known as the Church of the Jesuits, is located in the same street Kurutziaga, main artery of the town of Bizkaia. This religious temple is striking for its large white main facade that stands out from the rest of the complex.

Sculpture zezenak dira: More than 400 years of tradition give strength to this sculpture that we find in the Historical Center of Durango and that represents the event “zezenak dira”. A deep-rooted tradition in the town that consists of releasing a bull tied up through the streets of the Casco Viejo. This tradition takes place annually during the festivities of San Fausto.

Etxe Zuria Palace: The Etxe Zuria Palace or Eche Zuria, white house in Basque, hides a love story that occupied the cover of the famous magazine ¡HOLA! And it is in this palace where Casilda Varela Ampuero lived, first wife of the famous composer Paco de Lucia. The couple had to get married in Amsterdam because her family opposed to the marriage. In Durango they still remember those moments when Paco de Lucia used this palace to rest, compose and play esku pilota (hand ball).

Garai Palace: This beautiful palace from 1895 is one of the buildings that attract the attention of the passerby when walking along Kurutziaga Street. As we have already mentioned, on its left side we find another building of great beauty on whose facade we can see the traces of shrapnel from the bombing of the Civil War. Although the destruction left by the shrapnel is best seen in the adjoining building, this palace was also affected during the bombing.

These are some of the spaces that we recommend you to visit in Durango, but they are not the only ones, if you want to know in depth this town of the interior of Euskadi you can also contemplate the library, the Arribi Palace, the Lejarza Palace, the Convent of San Francisco, the Gran Durango Hotel, the cruises or the Orue House.

What to do in Durango.

Durango has a wide range of possibilities to enjoy active tourism in the area. An example of this are the activities and experiences that we are going to reveal below. We hope you like them.

Shepherd for a day: Becoming a shepherd for a day is one of the most beautiful and demanded experiences in the Basque Country. Through this activity, the youngest of the house (and not so young) will discover the exciting world of sheep, milk and cheese. A process with great tradition in Euskadi that allows us to enjoy great gastronomic products. We recommend you to book in advance as places for this experience are in high demand throughout the year. Remember that you can book this experience at the best price, quickly and securely from our reservation center, from here.

Hiking / mountaineering: Urkiola Natural Park is one of the most important natural areas of Bizkaia. A place that invites you to walk and enjoy the benefits of nature while we crown peaks such as Anboto (1,331 meters) or Alluitz (1040 m). Remember that there is also the possibility of family routes in the vicinity.

Bike routes: The Natural Park of Urkiola is one of the areas that you can visit during one of our bike routes in Euskadi. An epic space that we encourage you to discover on 2 wheels. If you want a personalized bike route through Durango and surroundings we recommend you to contact us through our contact form.

Gastronomy: The gastronomy is very present in Durango. And as in the rest of Euskadi, the famous pintxo bars and restaurants of classic dishes abound in the town. We recommend you to enjoy a good pintxos route through the old town, we are sure you will love it.

Where to sleep in Durango.

If you are looking for a place to sleep in Durango, we recommend you to read this section carefully. We are going to recommend you a magical, dreamlike establishment. A rural house decorated with care and detail, which, located 5 kilometers from the urban center of Durango, in Garai, offers us one of the best options to enjoy this incredible natural place. It is Garaiko Landetxea, a close and familiar space, in which they take care of the guests with much affection. You can book your stay quickly, safely and at the best price directly in our reservation center. We are sure you will love it.

How to get to Durango.

Durango is located in the interior of Bizkaia. A strategic location that allows us to enjoy nature just a step away from the big cities. And if you are planning to visit the Basque cities, you should know that Durango is located 30 minutes from Bilbao, 1 hour from Donostia San Sebastian and 1 hour from Vitoria Gasteiz. To get to Durango we can use both private and public transport.

History of Durango.

In the confirmation of the town’s charter, Durango is referred to as Tavira de Durango. According to historians, Tavira was the original name of the primitive urban center and Durango was the name of the district. In fact, until the 16th century this urban center is mentioned in several writings as Villanueva de Durango. Durango belonged to the kingdom of Pamplona and the kingdom of Navarre before becoming part of the Lordship of Vizcaya in 1095. From 1195, after the occupation of King Alfonso VIII, Durango became part of the Crown of Castile. We should not narrate the history of Durango without mentioning the bombing that took place on March 31, 1937. On this day more than 500 civilians died.

What to see near Durango.

As you have been able to see Durango has a nice range of spaces to contemplate and enjoy. Some places, which, complemented by all the towns and cities surrounding the town encourage us to enjoy this beautiful area of Euskadi. Here are some of the places that we recommend to visit after visiting Durango.

Video of Durango.

As usual in all our articles we wanted to complement the photographs and words with a video. A short audiovisual that aims to show in a more real way what you will find in Durango. In case you like this video we encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel, we are sure you will discover experiences and destinations that catch your attention.

As you have been able to appreciate Durango is one of those spaces worthy of mention in every trip to Euskadi. An idyllic space that we encourage you to visit. In case you have any questions about what to see in Durango we encourage you to use the comment system that you will find below these lines. We will try to respond as soon as possible. Ondo pass!