Ayuntamiento de San Sebastian (San Sebastian Town Hall), San Sebastian
The San Sebastian City Council governs from the old Gran Casino building next to the Alderdi Eder Gardens and La Concha Beach (Playa de la Concha). The Gran Casino was a palace of fortune erected in 1887 and closed in 1924.
Queen Isabela II spent her summers at San Sebastian, making it, for a time, a prime destination for the rich and famous. The presence of the Queen and court turned the city into the most fashionable and chicest holiday destination of the 19th century. San Sebastián became a magnet for the aristocracy.
Along with the casinos, the Maria Cristina Hotel, the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, the Cathedral of Good Shepherd (Catedral del Buen Pastor), the Penaflorida Institute, the School of Arts and Crafts (Escuela de Artes y Oficios,) the new tram, electric lights, and telephones earned the city the nickname "Little Paris."
Architects Luis Aladren and Adolfo Morales de los Rios took inspiration from the casinos in Monte Carlo. Everybody who was anybody came; the Queen and the Royal children, the Shah of Persia, Leon Trotsky, and Baron Rothchild. According to some historians, the casino banned berets and espadrille shoes and was frequented by very few locals.
The Gran Casino closed in 1924. In 1943 architects Alday and Arizmendi redesigned the building to accommodate the City Council, which was moving from its former premises at Constitution Square. And so the Gran Casino evolved into the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) of San Sebastian.
Queen Isabela II spent her summers at San Sebastian, making it, for a time, a prime destination for the rich and famous. The presence of the Queen and court turned the city into the most fashionable and chicest holiday destination of the 19th century. San Sebastián became a magnet for the aristocracy.
Along with the casinos, the Maria Cristina Hotel, the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, the Cathedral of Good Shepherd (Catedral del Buen Pastor), the Penaflorida Institute, the School of Arts and Crafts (Escuela de Artes y Oficios,) the new tram, electric lights, and telephones earned the city the nickname "Little Paris."
Architects Luis Aladren and Adolfo Morales de los Rios took inspiration from the casinos in Monte Carlo. Everybody who was anybody came; the Queen and the Royal children, the Shah of Persia, Leon Trotsky, and Baron Rothchild. According to some historians, the casino banned berets and espadrille shoes and was frequented by very few locals.
The Gran Casino closed in 1924. In 1943 architects Alday and Arizmendi redesigned the building to accommodate the City Council, which was moving from its former premises at Constitution Square. And so the Gran Casino evolved into the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) of San Sebastian.
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Ayuntamiento de San Sebastian (San Sebastian Town Hall) on Map
Sight Name: Ayuntamiento de San Sebastian (San Sebastian Town Hall)
Sight Location: San Sebastian, Spain (See walking tours in San Sebastian)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: San Sebastian, Spain (See walking tours in San Sebastian)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in San Sebastian, Spain
Create Your Own Walk in San Sebastian
Creating your own self-guided walk in San Sebastian is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Mount Urgull Walking Tour
Mount Urgull is a promontory stretching out at the eastern end of La Concha Bay, surrounded by water on all sides, except the one linking it to the Old Town of San Sebastian. Historically, this mount, rising 123 meters above sea level, served as a strategic defense point for the city, attesting to which now are the remnants of old fortifications with cannons still in place.
From its elevated... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
From its elevated... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
San Sebastian Introduction Walking Tour
San Sebastian has long been well-known as a popular tourist destination thanks to its beautiful crescent-shaped urban beach, delicious Basque cuisine, and lively nightlife. The scenic La Concha Bay is like a perfectly shaped spa sitting beside the city.
Named after the monastery of San Sebastian, the city traces its history back to 1181, when the King of Navarre, Sancho VI Garces, granted the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Named after the monastery of San Sebastian, the city traces its history back to 1181, when the King of Navarre, Sancho VI Garces, granted the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles