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Basque Cities: From San Sebastian to Bilbao with David Hosking

Basque Cities: From San Sebastian to Bilbao with David Hosking


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

This seminar looks at the history, monuments, festivals, foodstuffs, and other curiosities of the main cities of the Basque regions of northern Spain and southwest France. We'll cover San Sebastian, Bayonne, Pamplona, Vitoria, and Bilbao and the range of sights, sounds, and tastes that go with these wonderful destinations.

From the Belle Époque city and resort of San Sebastian, a culinary center of great renown, we will travel to Bayonne, the major city in the French Basque Country. This historical port and trading town has probably the most beautiful cathedral in the Basque Country, surrounded by a picturesque old quarter.

Then, we will follow in the footsteps of the Roman armies to Pamplona, famous for its bull-running and much loved by Ernest Hemingway. From there we will move onto Vitoria, one of Spain’s greenest cities and a stop on the international jazz circuit. In fact, Vitoria is surely the only city in the world to have both a jazz suite and a Mercedes model named after it. Our final halt is Bilbao. Although it is famous these days for its Guggenheim Museum, in the past it was best known for steel and ships. The largest of the Basque cities, it was once visited by John Adams and was home for a time to Simón Bolívar.

Led by an expert on the Basque Country, David Hosking, this interactive seminar about Basque cities is designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels. Participants will come away with an increased understanding of the main centers in this fascinating corner of Europe.

David, originally from Scotland, has been living and guiding in Bilbao and northern Spain for many years. David is a published art historian, professional art educator and translator (he translated into English one of the standard guides to the architecture of Bilbao). He has a particular interest in the way the architecture of a city can tell its story, and has a passion for this endlessly curious part of the world.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 14 reviews
29%
(4)
29%
(4)
29%
(4)
7%
(1)
7%
(1)
A
A. (Oakland, US)

Guest did not leave comment

N
N. (Queens, US)
Inspiration for traveling to 5 Basque cities

Information well organized and delivered with an economy of words, but you never forget that he is an art historian and lives in the Basque Country.

K
K.W. (Vernon, CA)
Travelling through the Basque countries

David Hosking takes us on a journey to the principal cities of the Basque countries, Spanish and French, introducing the history and modern aspects of the cities, with interesting side-bars on their development in the European context. He points out their architectural and art treasures along the way and things to see (and eat and drink) if we visit, in a lucid, well-paced seminar with just the right amount of photos and maps in support. The seminar makes you want to visit the area.

A
Anonymous (Phoenix, US)

Guest did not leave comment

P
P.R. (Québec, CA)
A beautiful overview

A slow pace talk of the principal capitals of the Basque Country.

Customer Reviews

Based on 14 reviews
29%
(4)
29%
(4)
29%
(4)
7%
(1)
7%
(1)
A
A. (Oakland, US)

Guest did not leave comment

N
N. (Queens, US)
Inspiration for traveling to 5 Basque cities

Information well organized and delivered with an economy of words, but you never forget that he is an art historian and lives in the Basque Country.

K
K.W. (Vernon, CA)
Travelling through the Basque countries

David Hosking takes us on a journey to the principal cities of the Basque countries, Spanish and French, introducing the history and modern aspects of the cities, with interesting side-bars on their development in the European context. He points out their architectural and art treasures along the way and things to see (and eat and drink) if we visit, in a lucid, well-paced seminar with just the right amount of photos and maps in support. The seminar makes you want to visit the area.

A
Anonymous (Phoenix, US)

Guest did not leave comment

P
P.R. (Québec, CA)
A beautiful overview

A slow pace talk of the principal capitals of the Basque Country.