Saint Vincent Church

Saint Vincent Church is one of San Sebastian’s most iconic landmarks, and with good reason, as it’s the oldest church in the city. Built between the 15th and 16th centuries, it was designed in the late Gothic style by architects Miguel de Santa Celay and Juan de Urrutia. It was constructed on the site of the city’s oldest temple, which dated back to the 12th century and was dedicated to Saint Vincent. After several fires, the church was rebuilt in the 15th century, this time in stone, to make it more resilient. Today, the church has three naves, a beautiful organ from 1868, colorful stained glass windows, and one of the finest Romanesque altarpieces in the region. If you take a closer look, you’ll notice that part of the church was never actually completed. It was originally designed to have four naves, but due to a lack of funds, the architects had to stop at three and finish the structure as best they could. Still, the result is impressive, and the church remains one of San Sebastian’s must-see monuments. On the walls, you’ll find a phrase written in Basque, “In the house of him who swears, neither harm nor injury shall be lacking.” A pretty strong warning, don’t you think? Make sure to step inside, it’s absolutely worth a visit.