Santurtzi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Santurtzi
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Santurtzi Location in Basque Country Show map of Basque Country Santurtzi Location in Spain Show map of Spain
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Basque Country
Province	Biscay
Comarca	Greater Bilbao
Founded	1075, first written reference
Area
• Total	6.77 km2 (2.61 sq mi)
Elevation	2 m (7 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	45,795
• Density	6,764/km2 (17,520/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Santurzano, santurtziarra (eusk.)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	48980
Official language(s)	Basque, Spanish

Santurtzi (also known as Santurce in Spanish) is a lively port town located in the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country region of Spain. It sits right on the Bilbao Abra bay, close to where the Nervión river meets the sea. Santurtzi is about 14 kilometers (9 miles) downriver from Bilbao and is part of the larger Greater Bilbao area. In 2019, it had a population of 45,853 people and covers an area of 6.77 square kilometers (2.61 square miles).

Did you know that the Santurce district in San Juan, Puerto Rico got its name from this very town?

Santurtzi's History and Name

According to old stories, the church of St. George in Santurtzi was first built as a monastery. It was founded by English monks who were escaping religious problems in their home country. They settled on the Basque coast, in an area called the Somorrostro Valley, which later grew into the town of Santurtzi.

The name Santurtzi comes from the Latin words Sant Georgi. This was also the name of a small chapel in Gordejuela nearby. You can find similar town names like Santurde and Santurdejo in other parts of Spain, such as Cantabria, Burgos, and Araba.

The Spanish name Santurce first appeared in writing in 1333. The Basque name Santurtzi was first written down in 1372. In the Middle Ages, the town was also known by other names like San Jurdic and Sturse. Today, both Santurtzi and Santurce are used, but Santurtzi is often preferred, especially in Spanish.

Changes to the Town's Official Name

The official name of the municipality has changed over time. In the 1800s, it was officially called Santurce. However, in 1901, the area was divided into two parts. The inland part became Santurce Ortuella because the mining town of Ortuella had grown quite large. The coastal part, where most of the people lived in Santurtzi, started to be called Old Santurce. Even today, you can see the historical connection between these two areas in places like Kabiezes.

Exploring Santurtzi's Geography

Santurtzi has a very interesting landscape, with many hills and valleys. The most famous natural landmark is Mount Serantes, which is 452 meters (1,483 feet) tall. Other important hills are The Mallet (245m) and the Fortified Heights (123m and 106m). The land here is made up of a type of rock called Urgonian Limestone, which formed during the Cretaceous period. This rock slopes gently towards the Estuary of Bilbao.

Santurtzi's Climate

The weather in Santurtzi is typical of a humid oceanic climate. This means temperatures are mild all year round. It rains more often in spring and autumn. Winters are not too cold, and summers are not too hot. On average, the temperature is about 20 °C (68 °F) in summer and 8 °C (46 °F) in winter.

Population of Santurtzi

The population of Santurtzi has changed a lot over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived there:

Santurtzi's Mayors

Here are the people who have served as Mayor of Santurtzi over the years:

Santurtzi City Council (2023-2027)

The City Council is like the local government that helps run the town. Here are the Mayor and Councillors for Santurtzi from 2023 to 2027:

Mayor

• Karmele Tubilla (PNV)

Councillors

• Edorta Rodrigo Izaola (PNV)
• Itziar Carrocera Fernández (PNV)
• Miguel Álvarez Ramírez (PNV)
• Ixone Andreu (PNV)
• Sonia López Bahamonde (PNV)
• Imanol Urrutxua Betanzos (PNV)
• Juan Andrades García (PSE)
• Itziar Utrera Pérez (PSE)
• Mario Gómez Pérez (PSE)
• Olga Pastor Albizu (PSE)
• Pedro Martínez González (PSE)
• Ainhoa Lopera Corada (Elkarrekin Podemos)
• José Manuel De Pablos Bajo (Elkarrekin Podemos)
• Miren Matanzas Gorostizaga (EH Bildu)
• Carlos Sáez Méndez (EH Bildu)
• Amaia Ginea Mardones (EH Bildu)
• Jose Ignacio Martín Haba (EH Bildu)
• Naiara Gutierrez Bilbao (EH Bildu)
• Beñat Goikoetxea López (EH Bildu)
• Luis Ángel Urdiales Villanueva (EH Bildu)

Fun Things to Do in Santurtzi

Life in Santurtzi is very connected to the sea. The sea inspires both work and fun activities! You can often see exciting fishing boat and rowing boat races. The town also celebrates the Virgin of Carmen every year, which is a big event.

Santurtzi's Events and Festivities

Santurtzi has many fun celebrations throughout the year:

• Easter Monday - Pascua - Cornites
• April 23, San Jorge (Saint George)
• June 24, San Juan (Saint John), celebrated in the San Juan neighborhood
• June 29, San Pedro (Saint Peter), celebrated in the Cabieces neighborhood
• July 16, Virgen del Carmen (Virgin of Carmen)
• September 8, Virgen del Mar (Virgin of the Sea), celebrated in the Mamariga neighborhood

Important Buildings and Monuments

Santurtzi has many interesting historical buildings and monuments to explore:

• San Jorge church (built in 1725, with the tower added in 1844)
• House Toasts (built in 1890)
• Town Hall (built in 1905)
• Monument to Cristóbal Murrieta (unveiled in 1923)
• Patronato Santa Eulalia (built in 1914)
• Home and clinical San Juan de Dios (built in 1925)
• Oriol Palace (built in 1913)
• Science of navigation school (built in 1860) and Hijas de la Cruz college (built in 1863)
• Virgen del Mar church (built in 1901)
• Fishermen Confraternity (built in 1916)
• Town Park (opened in 1918) and Central Kiosk (built in 1917)
• Mamariga fountain (built in 1882)
• Monument to the Sardinera (unveiled in 1964)
• Fishing Port (built in 1916) and Virgin of Carmen (built in 1950)
• Museum of Sculptures
• Monument to Miguel de Unamuno
• Señorío de Vizcaya Square (redesigned in 2007)

Images for kids

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  Señorío de Vizcaya Square

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  Oriol Palace

See also

In Spanish: Santurce (España) para niños