Durango, Bizkaia

History

Durango is a historic basque town. Its name was used by conquistadors like Francisco de Ibarra to found more Durangos in America named after the Basque original one, not least of which is a state in Mexico called Durango, the principal city of which is called Durango.
Some interesting monuments in Durango are the Kurutziaga Cross (15th century - currently removed from original site for restoration) and the baroque Santa Ana's Arch, designed by local architect Juan de Herdoiza (18th century). The arch was constructed to symbolise the town gates, through which the King was required to pass when he visited. Durango does not have a 'city wall'.
The town has the unfortunate claim of being the first place in the world to be blitzed by the Luftwaffe, at the request of General Francisco Franco.
Just like the Gernika bombing that followed, it was a busy shopping day - St. Maria, the central church (now a basilica) with a covered market, was the target. About 500 people were killed in Durango but it was not as famous as the following bombing of Gernika a few days later, to which Pablo Picasso paid tribute in his painting for the Paris Exhibition.1
There is less heavy industry in the town than ten or twenty years ago as it's being replaced by high density housing projects and shopping facilities.