10 Things to See and Do in Guernica, Spain
Guernica is a small town located in the Basque Country, located around a half-hour drive from the city of Bilbao. It’s well known because it was the scene of one of the worst bombings in Spanish history, which occurred on April 26, 1937. The event was immortalised in one of Pablo Picasso’s most famous paintings – Guernica – which became world famous. While most of the sights here have to do with the events of that fateful day, there are also Basque cultural museums, churches, nature reserves and markets to discover.
Take a look at the sacred Guernica Tree
One of the most important sites in Guernica is actually a tree. The Guernica Tree represents Basque identity and freedom, and became a symbol of the independence movement here. During medieval times, Basque communities and its leaders used to meet here to discuss and create laws. The Lord of Biscay established a set of laws called the fueros, which granted the Basques autonomous rule. The fueros were given to the Basques all the way up until the 19th century, although, today the Basque Country still has some autonomous rule. A tree has stood on this spot since the 14th century; however, the current one was only planted in 2015.
Learn about the Basques at the Euskal Herria Museum
Museum
Admire the Biscayan Assembly building
The Biscayan Assembly building sits right next to the Guernica Tree and is where the Basque government meets. The neoclassical building was designed by the architect Antonio de Etxebarria and was built between 1826 and 1833.
Explore the Peace Museum
Museum
See Picasso’s Guernica
Picasso’s original Guernica painting can be found in the Reina Sofia art museum in Madrid, but there is a tiled replica of it found in the town. Picasso created the painting just four months after the bombing of the town in 1937, and created it as a reaction and political message against the Nazis who attacked the town.
Shop at the Monday Market
Market
Stroll through the Park of the Peoples of Europe
Park
Discover the Santa Maria Church
Church
Learn how to play the fastest sport in the world
Jai alai, a form of Basque pelota, is said to be the fastest sport in the world, with balls being hit at speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour. It is like a combination of handball and squash, and is played with glove-like baskets called cestas. The game is played on a court called a fronton, and Guernica is home to the second-largest fronton in the world. The residents here are big fans of the sport.
Discover the nearby Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve
Take a day trip to the nearby Urdaibai – a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, located in the Mundaka estuary. It’s a great place for bird spotting and is home to species such as fish eagles, spoonbills and Eurasian bittern.
This year (2017) marks the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Guernica – read here to find out more about the history and the events to commemorate this occasion.
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