Orio is squeezed between the Río Oria and the hills behind it — a compact fishing village where the primary catch is bream and the primary way to eat it is grilled over charcoal. The restaurants along the waterfront take this seriously; if you're here at lunchtime, so should you.
The Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari, patron saint of fishermen, sits in Baroque style at the top of the old town. Below it the village clusters around the harbor and the river, which pilgrims once crossed by boat. You'll use a bridge now, but the fishing boats along the waterfront are a reminder that this is still a working port.
Orio's other point of pride is trainera rowing — the traditional boat races that are serious competitive sport in the Basque Country. The rowing club, founded in 1941, has produced champions, and during regatta season the atmosphere on the river is electric.
The Day of the Fishermen, San Pedro, is celebrated on the 29th of June. The patron of Orio, San Nicolás de Bari, is celebrated on the 6th of December.
Orio's history is inseparable from the sea. The village grew around the Iglesia de San Nicolás, established by 1180, and developed as a fishing port. The trainera rowing tradition evolved from competitions between fishing crews in the 19th century — the boats were the same ones used for work, raced by the men who pulled them.
The camino reaches the riverfront and turns left (inland) towards the nearest bridge over the river. Once across the bridge, it turns right to follow the N-634 a short distance. Where the road bends left, the camino exits to the right to follow the waterfront and the Portua. Stay along the road and head towards and under the AP-8 visible in the distance. Once past the bridge overhead, the camino reaches a small beach (on your right). Turn left at the first road, keeping the tall hedge to your left. Follow this road all the way past the Gran Camping de Zarautz; the way is uphill as you climb Mount Talaimendi. As you begin to descend along the road, with Zarautz visible in the distance, the camino turns right towards town along a foot path. It meets the road and turns right.
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