San Sebastian San Sebastian District GuideKing Sancho el Mayor of Navarra (Sancho the Elder) founded the city of Donostia (the Basque name of San Sebastian) around 1180. It is likely, however, that people were settled there prior to the 12th century, possibly in what is now El Antiguo district. That walled medieval area was the beginning of the
Parte Vieja (historical quarter, pictured at right), although not much evidence of 12th century architecture remains there. The oldest buildings still standing in San Sebastian were constructed after the 16th century. Remains of the city wall erected in the 1500s can still be seen at ...
San Sebastian Overview