The best time of the year to visit the Basque countries

Any time except during the summer because there are too many tourists then, and wouldn’t see the authentic Basque country. A good time to come is probably Spring or Autumn because Nature is so beautiful in those seasons.

The local foods a visitor should definitely taste

A visitor should taste the Espelette pepper which is very good and it adds a good taste to all the food. Taloa is like a pancake made from corn and you put what you want in it.

Five cities or monuments a traveller should definitely see 

1. The Basque museum in Baiona, there is a lot of information about Basque history, and there are also important masterpieces of Basque culture.

2. Larraldea, the house of culture in Amotze is a place where people used to meet and talk about some projects.

3. Castle of Abadia: it is set in a natural park opposite the sea, and was the house of a famous scientist and explorer.

5. Donibane Garazi is a touristic city because, the "Camino de Santiago" the pilgrimage of Saint James) passes through the town, so there are good restaurants.

6. Maule is the main town of Xiberua, one of the three provinces of the North Basque country.

4. Baiona is a very important town, and there are loads of things to visit like the harbour, or the cathedral.

The experiences of everyday life that a traveller shouldn’t miss in Baiona

A visitor shouldn't miss Basque food. They should try Basque meat, or eat in a "Sagarnotegi" (Cider house) where they can taste a typical meal and enjoy drinking fresh cider straight out of the barrel.Basque festivals are worth seeing because the music is really interesting and fun! There are also village fetes, and visitors can have fun and learn how Basque people party.

What to take back home as a symbol of Baiona?

The best souvenir is the memory of the time the visitors have spent here. However there are many objects or foods that are typical from here:" ardi gasna" ewe's cheese, "sagarnoa" cider, "patxaran" sloe-flavoured liqueur , "xingarra" ham, "baionako txokolateak" chocolate from Baiona," txakoli", a slightly sparkling, very dry white wine, "espartinak", espadrille shoes, "pala" and "xisterra", equipment of "pelota" a Basque sport.

LOCAL TRADITION AND CULTURE

-Every year the Motxian bertso school (which teaches the art of Basque improvised poetry)

organises Bertso Week, holding a series of public exhibitions

-Regatta is a boat race.

- Carnivals are different all over the Basque country. People wear traditional basque outfits.

Basque dances «euskal dantzak» are part of their tradition.

Arteka is a place where you can do rafting in Birriday’s river

Pelota is very popular, you have to play with a little ball in a «trinquet» which is a gymnasium with a left-hand wall.

SPORTS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

The three most important moments in the history of Basque country

The Battle of Roncevaux Pass (French and English spelling, Roncesvalles in Spanish, Orreaga in Basque) was a battle in 778 in which Roland, prefect of the Breton March and commander of the rear guard of Charlemagne's army, was defeated by the Basques. It was fought at Roncevaux Pass, a high mountain pass in the Pyrenees on the border between France and Spain.

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The end of Navarre kingdom (1512)

The French Revolution : the Basque Country lost all the laws it used to have. The three Northern

Basque provinces still enjoyed great autonomy until the French Revolution suppressed it

radically, as it did elsewhere in France, eventually creating the department of Pyrénées-

Atlantiques, half Basque and half Gascon

Ferdinand the Catholic did not relinquish his long-cherished designs on Navarre

When Navarre refused to join one of many Holy Leagues against France and

declared itself neutral, Ferdinand asked the Pope to excommunicate Albret,

which would have legitimised his attack. . 10

The Navarrese Cortes (Parliament) had to accept

annexation to Castile, which agreed to keep Navarrese autonomy and identity. In 1513, the first Castilian viceroy took an oath to respect Navarrese law

(fueros).

What traces of these events can a traveller still see?

Visitors can still see the "Astobizkar” '(donkey back hill) in Orreaga, which is very well-known in the Basque Country.

The assembly of Uztaritze, which used to be the capital of the north Basque country is an event that we still celebrate every year, we eat all together and there are concerts in the evening. 11

The excavation of the Castle of Amaiur is a historic monument of the Basque Country, and it

is very famous as a symbol of resistance 12

The most important cultural and artistic aspects of the Basque country

In the Basque Country, music, dance, Basque and contemporary art are the most important aspects of the region, there are a lot of typical instruments like the Trikitixa or the Pandero. We

are also used to dancing Basque dances called Mutxikoak. Finally, the most famous contemporary artist is

Oteiza, and he has an outdoor museum in Altzuza.

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Nicola De Girolamo 5GSanti Jonathan Di Paola 4G

Federica Marano 4GGiuseppina Raciti 4G

Liceo Statale“Enrico Boggio Lera”

Catania - Italy

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