(Hillsides of Itzarraitz), belonging to Bilbao – Donostia/San Sebastián line
Natural Values
Sea birds, crustaceans and molluscs in the beautiful irrigation channels of Zumaia on the coastline. Good remnants of autochthonous forest up the hillsides of Itzarraitz, in north Azkoitia (The following EuskoTren lines pass through this town: Azkoitia – Tolosa, Azkoitia – Zarautz and Zumaia – Zumarraga). Forest birds, such as goshawk. Woodcock. Wild boar. Small mammals.
Man made Monuments
In Zumaia, San Pedro church, on a hill, Santiago chapel or the ancestral homes of Ubillos or Olazábal. In Azpeitia (The following EuskoTren lines pass through this town: Azkoitia – Tolosa, Azkoitia – Zarautz and Zumaia – Zumarraga; Moreover, the EuskoTren Basque Railway Museum is in Azpeitia, and there is a steam train service from there to Lasao), the baroque Townhall, San Sebastián church and the stately houses of Anchieta, Basozabal or Emparan. In Loiola, the house where the founder of Society of Jesús was born, a traditional defensive tower-house, and the local baroque basilica. In Azkoitia, the Intxausti palace, where the Real Sociedad Vascongada de Amigos del País was founded in 1765; and the houses with coats of arms of Balda, Etxe Beltz or Floreaga; the Townhall and the Asunción church, typical Basque gothic style.
Hillsides of Itzarraitz
EOn the coastline, Zumaia shows an extraordinary biological and landscape interest. There are many crustaceans, shallow water fishes and some other marine organisms. The coast is also a shelter for Nordic bird species in winter.
The route which has been suggested starts from EuskoTren station in Zumaia, and continues along the old narrow gauge railroad, which was used between the coastline and Zumarraga, passing through Zestoa, Azpeitia and Azkotia (nowadays the EuskoTren Zumaia – Zumarraga bus line has replaced it; moreover, the EuskoTren Basque Railway Museum is in Azpeitia, and there is a steam train service from there to Lasao). The EuskoTren XXI Strategic Plan of the company, approved early this year 2001 (it provides for investments up to 2012), provides for the reopening of the aforementioned railway line between Zumaia and Azpeitia for tourism travelling, with steam and diesel trains going from the Basque Railway Museum in Azpeitia to the Zumaia station, as web as goods trains to Irún and Pasaia).
That line met the railway Bilbao – Donostia/San Sebastián line at Km. No. 21, passing through a tunnel near the Arrona station and going towards Guardiazarra farmhouse. After crossing the columns under the motorway of the Basque Country, the old train goes to the valley of the river Urola and once in Iraeta it continues along this river.
Then we will arrive to Zestoa (the following EuskoTren lines pass through this town: Azkoitia – Zarautz and Zumaia – Zumarraga), seaside resort, where the old station still exists, as an evocation of the days gone by. There are many lateral alternative routes along the old rail, through the hillsides on the left side of the river Urola. We can go up the Goltzibar valley through the forest path, from Zestoa – at km. 27 of the old rail – towards the hillsides of Izarraitz. On the side of the mountain there are still some autochthonous forests with oak woods.
Going along the old rail, the Urola valley will meet, between Azpeitia and Azkoitia industrial towns, the Loyola sanctuary, deeply rooted in the Basque Country. There was a railway station once there. We will have surrounded the hillsides of Erlo (1.032 m.), the highest peak of the nature space named Izarraitz. There are some pasturelands, which are pretty good for the traditional lacha sheep of the country. Wild boars, badgers and birds of prey are quite usual, although it is not easy to see them.
Más información de carácter turístico en www.paisvascoturismo.net
>> 
