Church of Santa María Magdalena, Hondarribia

The Church of Santa María Magdalena stands in the harbour district of Hondarribia, the Basque coastal town on the Txingudi bay, right on the Spanish-French border. It rarely makes it into guidebook highlight lists, but for locals it is a genuine landmark — the building that gave its name to an entire quarter of the town.

Why was this church built here?

The current building is not the first one dedicated to Santa María Magdalena in Hondarribia. An older, smaller chapel used to stand nearby, in what was known as the "arrabal de la Magdalena" (the Magdalena suburb). As the harbour district of Portua grew, the community needed a larger place of worship, so construction of a new church started in 1921. Two years later, on 22 July 1923 — the feast day of Saint Mary Magdalene — the building was formally inaugurated. That date made 2023 the centenary of the church, an anniversary the town marked by revisiting its local history.

What is worth seeing inside?

The interior is modest in size but holds one notable artistic feature: a fresco painted by the artist Gaspar Montes Iturrioz. That fresco is usually the main reason visitors step inside when the doors happen to be open — the church still functions as an active parish, so access outside Mass times is not guaranteed.

Why does this name show up everywhere in Hondarribia?

One detail tends to surprise first-time visitors: the name Santa María Magdalena is stamped all over this part of town. It labels the harbour neighbourhood itself, several streets, one of the towers and bastions of the old town walls, plus shipyards, quaysides, shops and schools in the area. The same patron saint is also tied to local festivities that bring residents out into the old port streets every year. In that sense, the small church works as a kind of anchor for the whole identity of this district.

How do you get there?

The church sits in the harbour district — known as La Marina or Portua — in the lower part of Hondarribia, close to the quay and the fishermen's houses that are among the town's best-known sights. From the historic old town (Casco Antiguo) it is an easy walk of around fifteen minutes, passing through the colourful facades typical of the port quarter. It makes a natural stop on a stroll along the waterfront, especially after visiting the walls and castle up in the old town.

When is the best time to visit?

This side of Hondarribia is calmest outside the summer peak, when the quay and the narrow streets of the harbour quarter are far less crowded. If you do come in summer, aim for late July: around the 22nd, the anniversary of the church's inauguration, the town tends to revisit the site's history, and the surrounding streets pick up the rhythm of the patronal festivities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you visit the Church of Santa María Magdalena every day? It is an active parish church, so opening hours follow the Mass and service schedule rather than fixed tourist visiting hours.

How old is the current church building? Construction began in 1921 and the building was inaugurated on 22 July 1923 — 2023 marked its centenary.

Is this the first church with this name in Hondarribia? No — an earlier, smaller chapel previously stood nearby in the Magdalena suburb before the current church replaced it.

What is the main highlight inside the church? A fresco by the painter Gaspar Montes Iturrioz, the standout decorative feature of the interior.