Medieval villa
Guided tour
Hernani is a medieval town with centuries of history and an important historical heritage. Its historic centre has been declared a Cultural Asset in the category of Monumental Site.
Two longitudinal streets, Andre kalea and Kale Nagusia, and a transversal one, Felipe Sagarna “Zapa” kalea, made up the walled town, which had only five entrances. Little remains of that wall today. The coming and going of the years seems to have overlapped histories to the point of making them almost invisible. Yet they are still there: you just have to know how to look.
On this guided tour we invite you to cross the walls of imagination, read the stones, admire the coats of arms, the façades… and to travel back in time, on a journey full of stories that are sure to surprise you.
Discover Hernani
Ongi etorri!
1. Convent of Saint Augustine
The church in the Middle Ages
Doña Mariana & Doña María were two sisters of strong religious beliefs, determined to dedicate their lives to prayer. For this purpose, together with other women from influential families... +++
2. Plaza Berria
Early 20th century
It is Saturday, 27 September 1924. Plaza Berria is packed. There are no stalls of baserritarras, but many traders make the most of the occasion to sell all sorts of things, with their usual oratory skills… +++
3. Beroitz etxea
High society
The Beroitz house is a beautifully simple building with an aristocratic touch and elegant Renaissance, late Gothic and Baroque decorative elements. +++
4. Dorretxea
Defensive Hernani
Hernani was a strategic point in the territorial disputes between the kingdoms of Castile and Navarre. In 1180, the Navarrese King Sancho El Sabio founded the town of San Sebastián, thus giving the Kingdom of Navarre an outlet to the sea… +++
5. Saint John church
A church for the people
In 1512, as part of the conquest of the kingdom of Navarre and following the capture of Pamplona by the Duke of Alba, the retreating Navarrese-French troops pillaged and burnt Hernani. The original parish church, located outside the walls, was badly damaged. +++
6. Town Hall
Carlist Wars
The Carlist Wars, beyond the disputes over the succession to the Spanish crown, were a clash between two models of Government. On the one hand, the supporters of a traditional regime, based on foralist privileges… +++
7. Andre kalea
Cider
Andre kalea is the “other” street that made up that medieval Hernani. Looking at the buildings, it is easy to conclude that Kale Nagusia was the street of the wealthy:successful merchants and aristocracy, mainly. +++
8. The Arch
The Hernani wall
There were five original entrances to the walled town of Hernani. The main entrances were demolished between 1855 and 1856 and were located at the end of Kale Nagusia and Andre kalea streets.+++
9. Portalondo
From “hermandades” to councils
Martín Pérez de Alcega was one of the most important feudal lords of the late Middle Ages in Gipuzkoa. His lineage was established in Hernani and he did not hesitate to organise marriages of convenience to favour the power of his line of succession. +++