San Sebastian will share the European Capital of Culture in 2016

Each year, the European Council choses two cities in the European Union (EU) that will have the honour of hosting the European Capital of Culture. In 2016, this bi-cephalic capital status will be shared by San Sebastian in Spain and Wroclaw in Poland.

San Sebastian, also known officially as Donostia in Basque, is one of the main touristic destinations of the Basque Country in the North of Spain. The city boasts some of the nicest beaches in northern Spain, beautiful architecture and wonderful gastronomy. It is the capital of the province of Guipuzkoa and is located on the Atlantic seaboard of Spain, a mere 20 km from the border with France.

Two of the main attractions of San Sebastían are the incredible natural beauty of the bay around which the city wraps itself, the Bahía de la Concha, and the charm of its late 19th, early 20th century "Belle Époque" architecture. San Sebastían was the summer destination of choice for Spanish monarchy and upper-class society of the time and the city has kept the elegant flavor that accompanied that period.

After strolling around its streets and taking in the sights you will also have the occasion to make a stop at the many bars in the Old Town where you will enjoy some of the best tapas, or pintxos (pronounced "pinchos") as we call them here, that you will ever have a chance to taste in Spain. These are not only stomach fillers, but in many cases real works of art, that bring together a delightfully enjoyment for all the senses: taste, view, smell and touch.

Gastronomy is a serious business for all Basque people, and nowhere more than in San Sebastían. It is one the major exponents of the "Nouvelle Basque Cuisine" that revolutionized the already rich traditional gastronomy of the region and brought it to new levels. The excellence of Basque cuisine is now recognized internationally. You will find here at least three of the top Spanish chefs, each of which has the maximum qualification of three stars on the Michelin Guide: Juan Mari Arzak of restaurant Arzak , Pedro Subijana of restaurant Akelarre and Martín Berasategui of Kursaal.* In total, the city has an astonishing 16 stars on the Michelin Guide, which is quite an accomplishment for a town of only 186.000 inhabitants.

San Sebastían has also forged a reputation for itself worldwide for the variety and quality of the numerous cultural events that take place all year round. Fans of Jazz, classical music or films can find their fill at any of the international festivals that take place in the city's many quality theaters and auditoriums, with both the modern and the classic present in its cultural flagships the Auditorio Kursaal and the Teatro Victoria Eugenia.

Mid-August, visitors can also enjoy the main summer the festivity of San Sebastían, La Semana Grande , and delight themselves each evening watching the international fireworks festival around the bay of La Concha.

In 2016, the organization of San Sebastían's bid as European Cultural Capital will be adding a whole cohort of programs and activities to this already busy cultural calendar around the theme "Culture to overcome violence" with four main pillars of activities or lighthouses , as they are being called following the seafaring tradition of the city:

• Lighthouse of peace – conflict, coexistence, rejection of violence, in favour of human rights, empathy, difference.
• Lighthouse of life – healthy living, solidarity, reconciliation, feminist ethics, gastronomy, inclusion/exclusion, citizen empowerment.
• Lighthouse of voices – languages, artistic forms of expression, transmedia, diversity, the Basque language, translation.
• Lighthouse of the sea and earth – territory, landscape, city and nature, sustainable mobility, borders, governance.

Be sure to mark 2016 on your calendars and see you in San Sebastían!

* This is a secondary site. The three star restaurant is located 10km from San Sebastían in Lasarte. Mugaritz, considered the third best restaurant in the world is also located close by in the town of Rentería.