Getaria marks 500th anniversary of Elkano’s death with historic reenactment

The coastal town of Getaria in the Basque Country staged a large‑scale historical reenactment of the landing of Juan Sebastián Elkano, the navigator who completed the first circumnavigation aboard the Victoria. The event, part of the San Salvador festivities, commemorated the 500th anniversary of Elkano’s death and attracted thousands of residents and visitors who filled the historic centre and the harbour.

Organisers and volunteers spent months preparing period costumes, sets and choreography, turning the streets into a 16th‑century scene of sailors, merchants and soldiers. The spectacle highlighted the town’s strong maritime heritage and drew families, friends and tourists eager to witness one of Gipuzkoa’s most prominent cultural celebrations.