Gipuzkoa Plaza

This guide to Gipuzkoa Plaza in San Sebastian traces the park's odd 1877 founding, when planners uprooted decades-old trees from two royal estates across town and replanted them fully grown rather than wait for saplings to mature. French landscape architect Pierre Ducasse laid out the grounds in a wild, romantic style, and you'll hear about the marble weather pavilion donated by geographer Jose de Otamendi in 1880 and the Provincial Council building that rose to face the garden. Look for the small bridge over the duck pond as you make your way through.