City Hall

At the far end of the Alderdi Eder Gardens stands San Sebastian’s City Hall, one of the most striking buildings in what many call the Pearl of the Cantabrian Sea. Although it became the official town hall in 1947, the building itself is much older. It was originally opened in 1887 as a casino! Its architecture is typical of the Belle Époque, a period that stretched from the 1870s to the First World War, marked by major advances in economics, technology, and society. It was during this time that inventions like the telephone, the car, and the airplane came to life! Now, back to the building in front of you. With its warm ochre-colored façade, it’s hard to miss. Originally a grand casino used by the local aristocracy, it closed its doors in 1923 when gambling was banned throughout Spain. Years later, the building was restored and transformed into the City Hall. It took on its new role in 1947, serving the people of San Sebastian, a city that now has over 186,000 residents.