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> Ensanche Area Donostiarra
Lying between La Concha beach and the final stretch of the Urumea River is San Sebastian’s first ensanche (area of urban expansion).
Upon entering the second half of the 19th century, the local people managed to organise the demolition of the ramparts that, for centuries, had protected and contained their city.
They did so in order to create a new centre of population that would also comply with the dictates of the time in urban development, reflected in the principles of the middle-class and the new ideas that were being developed in 19th century Europe, immersed in an industrial, scientific and economic revolution.
Responsibility for the design was assigned to the architect Antonio de Cortazar. His project multiplied the surface area five-fold; he created a new commercial and business centre, with the vision to create one part dedicated to tourism and leisure in the area around the Paseo de la Concha and another for official business, commerce and housing elsewhere.
The ensanche is now the commercial and administrative centre of the city. An area that is conducive to walking and that very typical local pastime of “window-shopping”, which is also embraced enthusiastically by visitors to this beautiful city, Donostia-San Sebastian.