Cathedral Buen Pastor de San Sebastián

The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd is the tallest building in San Sebastián, marked by its slender, seventy-five-meter needle spire that pierces the skyline. Built in the late nineteenth century, the structure was funded by public donations from the city’s wealthiest families, who competed to sponsor individual stained-glass windows. During construction, the architect Manuel de Echave famously insisted on using local sandstone, despite fears it would erode. That porous stone still absorbs sea salt, giving the exterior its distinct, weathered golden hue.