Orio

Orio began as a simple parish dedicated to San Nicolás de Bari and was absorbed into the territory of San Sebastián in 1180. Its position on the Coastal Route to Santiago brought it growing importance: pilgrims crossed the Oria river here by ferry, and the tolls benefited the local economy. To develop the town's ironworks and shipyards, King Juan I of Castile granted it a royal charter on 12 July 1379, founding the settlement as Villarreal de San Nicolás de Orio.

During the Civil War, rebel troops took the town on 21 September 1936 without resistance. In March 1965 a fire destroyed the town hall entirely, though neighbours and the Civil Guard managed to save the archives.

Orio is known above all for two things: its way with sea bream, and its rowing.

The town's reputation for besugo draws visitors who come for no other reason than to eat it. Until recently the fish came from the Cantabrian Sea, but scarcity now means it is often imported from Tarifa. What sets Orio apart is the grilling method. The coals must be built up carefully and spread until they form a black crust, which prevents the fish from burning. The bream is scaled, gutted, oiled, and seasoned inside and out — one kilo serves two people — then placed directly on the grill without a fish holder, which is the key difference from other towns. It stays on the heat for around twenty minutes, untouched. Once opened flat on a serving dish — starting from the tail and working toward the head — the sauce is prepared separately: sliced garlic and chilli cooked in hot virgin olive oil, then set aside. Vinegar goes straight onto the fish, never into the pan. The hot oil follows. Then comes what locals call the magic touch: the vinegar, oil, and fish juices are collected from the dish and swirled gently in the pan a couple of times before being poured back over the fish.

Rowing is the town's oldest sport, rooted in the days when fishermen pulled oars for a living. Orio holds the record for victories in the Bandera de La Concha, the most prestigious trainera race on the calendar, held in San Sebastián — 32 wins in total. The Club Remo Olímpico Orio, founded in 1965, trains on the Oria river itself and competes in the Liga ACT alongside the best clubs from Galicia, Cantabria, and the Basque Country. The club also competes in Olympic rowing, and several of its athletes have represented Spain at World Championships and the Olympic Games. A footnote in local history: Orio was the last place in the Basque Country where a right whale was caught, on 14 May 1901.

The patron saint's day falls on 6 December, the feast of San Nicolás de Bari. Fishermen celebrate their own day on 29 June, the feast of San Pedro.