Ermita de San Martín de Tours

Ermita de San Martín de Tours - Wikimedia Commons / Alex Chang

The Northern Way, although it is a long route to Santiago, allows us to visit one of the most special regions of Spain, the Basque Country. During this route we will get to know some of the most important cities of this place, but also small towns like Orio, where we can find a building dedicated to the patron saint of pilgrims and walkers, the Hermitage of San Martín de Tours.

A hermitage overlooking the river mouth

The Way of St. James is one of the elements that make the Iberian Peninsula such a popular destination for pilgrims. Proof of this is the existence of different buildings dedicated to pilgrims and walkers, such as the Church of San Martín de Tours in Frómista, or the Hermitage of San Martín de Tours in Orio.

The Hermitage of San Martín de Tours is very close to the parish church of San Nicolás, in the municipality of Orio. The original building was erected before the 13th century and the hermitage we can see today was built on top of it in the 16th century, a clear example of late medieval rural architecture.

It is a hermitage with a single nave, built in sandstone masonry with a wooden roof. During its remodelling, it was enlarged both in height and extension, giving rise to a new apse with a barrel vault.

Inside the church, different altarpieces stand out. The main, polychrome one is dedicated to Saint Martin, patron saint of pilgrims. The others pay homage to San Sebastián, Santo Cristo and Santa Ana. In addition, hanging from the ceiling we can find an ex-voto boat, which refers to the devotion of the sailors to this place.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that the location of this hermitage makes it a place worth visiting. From the hill on which it is built you can see the mouth of the river Oria in the sea, something that makes the building even more valuable.