Amurrio in 30 seconds
About 10,300 inhabitants (10,330 in 2024), in a municipality of 96.5 km² made up of ten concejos (village councils), including the town of Amurrio itself. Located in north-west Álava, in the Ayala district (cuadrilla), it was nicknamed El crucero (‘the crossroads’) because it linked the lands of Castile with the great ports of the Cantabrian coast. The economy centres on the steel industry (seamless steel tubes).
What to see
The Salto del Nervión
A 222 m drop, the highest waterfall in the Iberian Peninsula. It lies on the boundary between Amurrio (the concejo of Délica) and Berberana (province of Burgos), between the Monte Santiago Natural Monument and the Sierra de Guillarte.
Two ways in:
- From the Burgos side: a waymarked path to the viewpoint from the Monte Santiago area
- From the Álava side: about 1 hr 30 min on foot from the village of Untza, following the rim of the Délica canyon
Santa María church
The parish church and the town’s main monument: its origins go back to the 13th century (late Romanesque), but most of it dates from the mid-16th century (Renaissance). The chapel of the Virgin of Guadalupe was built in 1925. Its 25-bell carillon is billed as the first in Euskadi (the Basque Autonomous Community).
Ugarte tower house
Built in 1718 by Manuel de Ugarte y Orúe and notable for its carved wooden eaves; it has housed the municipal cultural centre since 1983.
San Antón hermitage
Dating from the 16th century. Together with the church of Santa María, this was the old seat of power: the Junta de Armuru used to meet in front of the hermitage.
The ‘Guk’ sculpture
A work by Ángel Camino (2003), 31 tonnes of steel, in Juan de Urrutia park: it represents all the people of Amurrio.
The towers
The Mariaca, Urrutia and Saerín towers bear witness to the town’s civil architecture. The 16th-century Urrutia Palace (or Cejudo Palace) has two coats of arms on its main façade.
Museums
- Liqueur museum — devoted to the Manuel Acha distillery, in business since 1831
- Bicycle museum — around 1,500 items
San Roque park
A park with an adjoining hermitage.
Specialities
- Álava txakoli (Arabako Txakolina, a designation recognised in 2001) — produced in the municipalities of Amurrio, Artziniega, Ayala, Laudio/Llodio and Okondo, mainly from the hondarribi zuri grape. Amurrio celebrates Txakolin Eguna in May, on the Sunday after San Isidro.
Market and fiestas
- Weekly market: on Fridays, in front of the San Antón hermitage.
- San Prudencio: 28 April.
- Patron saint fiestas (Our Lady of the Assumption and San Roque): mid-August.
- Minerals and fossils fair: during Holy Week.
- Artzain Eguna (shepherds’ day): the third Sunday in September.
- Mikoturismo Eguna (mushrooms): in November.
Getting there
- By train: Bilbao Renfe Cercanías (commuter rail) line C-3; about 33 to 40 minutes to Bilbao-Abando
My favourite photo
The Salto del Nervión when the river is in spate, a white column against the cliff.
Sources
- Turismo Euskadi (Basque Government) — Amurrio (in Spanish)
- Amurrio Turismo — Qué ver en Amurrio
- Basque Government — Arabako Txakolina PDO
- Wikipedia (es): Amurrio (INE 2024 population), Salto del Nervión, Estación de Amurrio
Ongi etorri Amurriora — Welcome to Amurrio.