Palaces and Tower Houses
Goikotorre
The tower-house of the Elorriaga family. The building has undergone drastic alterations which have disfigured its appearance somewhat.
The building’s main features are its crenellated upper wall, square floor plan and pointed archway on the ground floor.
Jauregia
The Zumaia Gamboas, the town’s leading wealthy family, built their family mansion right next to the parish church.
Although it has undergone many different renovations and alterations, the building still retains many elements that attest to its 15th century origins, including, among others, its sandstone ashlar blocks, a lobed window and a pointed archway.
Ubillos
The stately home of the Ubillos family. Prior to the 16th century, this building consisted of a single tower, currently the one located on the left-hand side of the façade. During the 16th century, a square courtyard (typical of the Renaissance) was added, along with the right-hand tower, a large entranceway and balconies, marking the change from the conflictive Middle Ages to more pacific times.
After being abandoned for many years and falling into a terrible state of disrepair, it was finally renovated at the beginning of the century, although its design was altered somewhat in the process.
Torreberri
Today only the outer walls of this tower still survive, although they are sufficient to give us a clear idea of the building’s original beauty. Manuel de Arriola rebuilt the family house-tower at the beginning of the 17th century, turning it into a beautiful example of a house-tower from that period.
Its square floor plan is well adapted to the slope upon which the tower stands, and the main facade is located on the higher ground. The walls are built from masonry, with ashlar stones at the corners and around the windows and doors. The balconies open out onto the main façade, which sports the family coat of arms in the centre.
Olazabal, Uriarte or Palazixo Haundixa
Juan de Olazabal was secretary to the court of Philip IV and General Accountant of the Inquisition when he built his mansion in Zumaia. A typical 17th century family home, it features ashlar stones only on the main façade, which also contains the entranceway and the wrought iron balconies of the principal floor and is adorned with the Olazabal family coats of arms.
The top of the facade is especially worth noting, with its jutting wooden eaves decorated in the style typical of the period. Mention should also be made of the increased interest shown during this period in the gardens of stately homes, as evident in the magnificent magnolia tree standing opposite the rear façade.
Kondekua
An 18th century house-tower, Kondekua stands alone on the banks of the River Urola, in the district of Oikia.
This square tower is made of masonry (currently visible), with ashlar stone at the corners and around the windows and doors, as is typical of this type of construction. It also has the typical wrought iron balconies on the main floor, and the family coat of arms, which is unfortunately fairly worn and chipped.
Foronda
An eclectic building constructed for the Marquis of Foronda as a summer residence, it is currently a cultural centre. Designed by Juan José Gurrutxaga, the municipal architect of Eibar who designed several major buildings in Donostia-San Sebastián, including the courthouse, Foronda reflects the somewhat pretentious tastes of the nobility, who requested an imitation medieval castle, as evident in a number of elements including the battlements, turrets and sandstone ashlar, among others.
