Ea, Biscay

Ea
Municipality

Ea, river and Roman Bridge.

Flag
Coat of arms

Location of Ea in Biscay.
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  País Vasco
Province Biscay
Comarca Busturialdea
Government
 • Mayor Juan Luis Landazabal Lamikiz (Bildu)
Area
 • Total 14.17 km2 (5.47 sq mi)
Elevation 10 m (30 ft)
Population (2014)
 • Total 865
 • Density 61/km2 (160/sq mi)
Demonym Spanish: Earra
Basque: Eatar
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 48141

Ea (also pronounced Ie in Basque) is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.

The town has three boroughs: Ea, Bedarona and Natxitua. The main one, Ea, is the most populated of the municipality, which has a total population of 870 (2007).

Geography

Ea is located on the coast, 50 km northeast from Bilbao, in the bottom of a tiny estuary that breaks through the cliffs of the Bay of Biscay. The Ea river crosses the town, which has three bridges, the oldest one being the so-called "Roman Bridge" (featured in the coat of arms) that is really a medieval one. There is a small fishing port, but the predominant activities of the town are agriculture, silviculture and cattle, with many farms disperse around the typically basque countryside.

History

The area was a rural one, centered on the parishes of Natxitua and Bedarona. In the 16th century, fishermen from both villages founded a new permanent settlement at the bottom of the tiny estuary of the river Ea. After two centuries, the settlement became far more important than its two neighbouring villages, so finally a new municipality was created, uniting the two former villages and with capital in Ea. As a remainder of its past as two separated parishes, Ea has two main churches, one at each bank of the river.

Transport

There is a taxi service in the town. Contact Iratxe on 616395470 or 626219407

Fiestas

The first fiesta in the calendar is San Juan, from the night of the 23rd until the 26th of June. On the 16th of July the town celebrates The Virgin of Carmen, patron saint of fishermen. San Ignacio takes place in the Bedarona neighbourhood on the 31st of July. On the first weekend of August there is the Gazte Eguna rock festival in Natxitua. On August 24th the people of the town gather together for San Bartolome day. There is a paella championship, traditional Basque sports and dancing at night. There is an end-of-summer party on the last weekend of August.

Culture

Days Of Poetry

Every year since 2003, for three days in July, members of the cultural workshop HEA, inspired by the Basque poet and Ea summer visitor Gabriel Aresti, organise the poetry festival Eako Poesia Egunak (Days of Poetry in Ea). The event incorporates dance, poetry, concerts and theatre and has become a major event in the Basque cultural calendar. The 2014 edition is from the 15th to the 17th of July.

Gallery

References

Coordinates: 43°22′53″N 2°34′57″W / 43.38139°N 2.58250°W