If there is one place in the whole world whose name is associated with a painting, this place is Guernica. Picasso painted this work in 1937, and we will add little to what you probably already know about it. It was done after the shock caused by the bombing of the town, in which German and Italian planes of the Condor Legion, without military objectives, massacred the civilian population on a market day.
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If there is one place in the whole world whose name is associated with a painting, this place is Guernica. Picasso painted this work in 1937, and we will add little to what you probably already know about it. It was done after the shock caused by the bombing of the town, in which German and Italian planes of the Condor Legion, without military objectives, massacred the civilian population on a market day.
That monstrosity, which gave rise to one of the most famous paintings in history, wiped out almost all the old buildings and monuments from the streets of the town but did not affect its two great symbols: the Casa de Juntas (the Assembly Hall) and, above all, the Tree of Guernica.
They both come from old medieval customs, as is often the case. The ancient lordship of Biscay had its government meetings to discuss laws and decide on essential matters, but they also swore to the Lord, who before them had to give his word to respect the laws. That act was so important that, when the lordship of Biscay became part of the kingdom of Castile, the monarch himself had to go and swear as tradition dictated.
The ritual was performed under a large tree, to give greater solemnity to the action, and that was the famous Tree of Guernica. The oldest known tree was born in the fourteenth century, lived for about five hundred years, and with its offspring has remained a symbol of freedom with which every president of the Basque Government, called Lehendakari in Basque, continues to swear.
So history did not allow the town of Guernica to be monumental, but it is a true symbol of Basque tradition and culture. It houses the Museum of the Basque Country and the Museum of Peace and exhibits a mural that reproduces Picasso's work and claims its location in the place that inspired it. In addition to all this, it honours a famous saying meaning, more or less something like "Not a stroke of work gets done on Mondays in Guernica": "Lunes gernikes, golpeterik ez". This has always been the traditional market day, which in other times was used to interact and have fun, and today maintains much of this good custom.
Let us add that Guernica is part of the Urdaibai nature reserve and that you have charming beaches nearby. But if you prefer another plan, you can go to the mythical Jai Alai pelota court, recognised by many ballplayers as the best in the world.
