Overall Score
San Sebastian – a lively and picturesque town on the shores of the beautiful and comfortable cove of La Cancia in the Bay of Baku, located at the foot of the Irgulus Mountain. It is an important port of the Bay of Basque and a popular seaside resort.
In the antebellum period, San Sebastian was inhabited by Basque fishermen. As its name, the city was derived from the Monastery of St. Sabayan, founded in 1014. The township, not the monastery settlement, came into being in 1180, when Pedro Sanz, King of Nauru, gave the monastery extensive land holdings. The Basque name of the city – Dhonostia – also means «Saint Sebastian».
The city, which belonged to the kings of the Philippines, played an important role both as a port and as a military stronghold. San Sebastian was plagued both by numerous fires and by the territorial conflicts of neighboring France, Aragon, and Castile. Military conflicts and a firestorm have repeatedly marked the face of San Sebastian. The most devastating event occurred in 1813, during the Napoleonic Wars, when an Anglo-Portuguese army succeeded in defeating the French-occupied city. The explosions of artillery stores and fires wiped out all of San Sebastian except for one street. It bears the name of «31 August» in memory of the tragic event.
In the second half of the 18th century, the outlying city of San Sebastian attracted French and Spanish knowledge as a resort town. Even in the years of World War I, when Europe was ravaged by the ravages of war, San Sebastian remained a cultural destination. In 2006, Van Sebastian was chosen as the cultural capital of Europe (along with Wroclaw).
The main attractions of San Sebastian are the sandy beaches of Orinretta and La Conca, as well as the picturesque spa at the island of SantAndrea Clara. The citys resort status is reinforced by the leisure park, the citys park & la Crucina Enuea, the casino and the seafront promenades. The most notable ones are: Cathedral (1897), Miramar Palace (1893), the Mérérie (1887) in the former Hôtel de la Cuisine, the Museum of San Téllemo in the former Dominican Monastery, the Hotel &Laquo; Maria Cristina» and the Theater of Victoria-Eugenia, an effective monument to Maria Cristina.
Overall Score
- Air quality: 38 US AQI Good. Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
- Tap water: Yes, safe to drink
- Religious government: Non-religious
- Population: 190,000 people
- GDP: $26,695 / year
- Foreigners can own real estate: Yes
- Power outlets: 230V50Hz
- Internet: 29 Mbps
- Best wireless: Movistar
- Pay without cash: Yes, cards OK almost everywhere
- Tipping: Tipping in Spain may not be considered customary, but there are certain places when it’s acceptable to leave a few coins. A good rule of thumb is to skip the tip at cheaper restaurants and leave up to 10 percent when service exceeds expectations in upscale dining establishments.
- Apartment listings: Casa Mundo
- Apartments: Airbnb
- Hotels: Booking.com
- More hotels: Hotels.com
- Best taxi: Uber
- Online electronics shop: Amazon
- Best intl air carrier: Iberia
- Monthly costs for expat: $2200
- Monthly costs for family: $3900
- Monthly costs for local: $1100
- Meal: $13
- Small Cola: $2
- Beer 1 Pint: $4.5
- Coffee: $3
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