Culture

Throughout the town’s history, a number of different artists have left their mark through their work and efforts in the fields of literature, music, painting and sculpture, as well as in the defence of the Basque language and culture.
One such figure is the famous writer, painter and lawyer Baltasar Etxabe, who wrote, among others, “Ancient Speeches in the Cantabrian-Basque language”, printed in Mexico in 1607. Originally from Oikia, Etxabe founded the Mexican School of Painting and in 1606 was a judge at the Royal Academy of Mexico. His paintings include the altarpiece in Tlatelolco Church and “The Agony in the Garden”, currently housed in the Mexican Academy of Fine Arts. His wife, Isabel de Ibia, was also an acclaimed painter. Her "San Sebastián" is currently displayed at the Altar of Forgiveness in the Cathedral of Mexico.
 
 

The Foronda Cultural Centre.

Although born in Ondarroa in 1864, Txomin Agirre nevertheless spent most of his life and wrote most of his works in Zumaia, where he served as chaplain at the Carmelite School. The author of diverse tales, legends, papers, travel chronicles, poems and novels, including “Auñamendiko lorea” and “Kresala y Garoa”, he was also a member of the then newly established Basque Language Academy. Agirre died in 1920 while writing his unfinished novel “Ni ta ni”.

Another of Zumaia’s famous artists is Julio Beobide, a renowned sculptor who died in 1969 and was a member of the San Fernando Academy of Fine Arts. Kresala, the studio in which he worked and which still houses many of his sculptures, is now a museum. Another of the town’s museums, the Zuloaga museum, contains well-known works by El Greco, Goya and Zurbarán, as well as works by the Eibar-born painter himself, Ignacio Zuloaga, who set up his studio in the house he owned beside Santiago Chapel, the old stopping place for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela.
 
Musicians have also left their mark on the history of Zumaia. The town boasts several composers, organists and conductors whose batons have led both the Parish Choir and the Municipal Music Band at one time or another:  José María Beobide, Luis Urteaga, José María Olaizola, Evaristo Izeta, José Echave, José María González Bastida and Antonio Trueba, among others.

However, in addition to the Music Band and the Parish Choir (both of which are highly acclaimed), Zumaia also has a veteran group of Basque dancers, known as “Beti Gazte”, which has seen many generations of townsfolk thanks to the efforts of all those who have, over the years, invested so much time and energy in its conservation and improvement.

There is, however, another woman who was born in Zumaia and who dedicated most of her life to defending and promoting the Basque language and culture. Her name was Julene Azpeitia, and she worked as a teacher at different schools and wrote short novels, children’s stories and even primers in Basque for children - works for which she received numerous awards and accolades. The Zumaia Local Council holds a story writing competition in her honour every year.

But it is in summer, from 1 to 11 August, that one of the town's most important festivals takes place: the Zumaia Summer Music Festival, which lasts 11 days and includes a wide variety of interesting courses and concerts by internationally acclaimed musicians.

Octopus Day

But the summer in Zumaia does not just offer music, and many events are celebrated during this season, including the Craft Fair, the Basque Festival, art seminars (featuring the “Hurrengo taberna arte” exhibition organised by the Art Workshop), boat races, the Dinastía Etxabe pelota tournament and Octopus Day, to name but a few.

The venues for all these events vary widely and include the Foronda Cultural Centre, the Aita Mari cinema, the Ubillos Music School and the old Vocational Training College. Furthermore, the book and toy libraries are always open for anyone who wishes to use them.