St. Nicholas Island

In front of the mouth of the river Lea you can see the Island of Garraitz. It is also known as Saint Nicholas, as there used to bea hermitage with this title in the XVIth century. The hermitage was run by the“freilas” or “seroras” (basque Blessed Sisters). In the 17th century a Franciscan convent was established which only lasted a few years, due to the harsh weather and the the lack of fresh water. During plague epidemics the sick were confined there. It can be accessed when the tide is out