Gaztelugatxe islet at sunset, Basque Country, Spain Apr 5, 2025

Gaztelugatxe islet at sunset, Basque Country, Spain

Gaztelugatxe is a stunning islet located on the coast of Biscay in the Basque Country, Spain. It"s famous for its dramatic scenery and the small hermitage, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, dedicated to John the Baptist at its peak. The hermitage, which dates back to the 10th century, has been rebuilt several times due to damage from battles and fire. Today"s building is perched atop the islet and is accessible by a narrow path that includes 241 steps. It"s a popular pilgrimage site, and visitors often ring the church bell three times and make a wish. According to legend, John the Baptist himself set foot on the islet. The views from the top offer panoramic vistas of the rugged coastline and the Cantabrian Sea.

© Eloi_Omella/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Which bird wore it best?
Apr 5, 2024The Bahamas

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 28, 2025Town of Pienza in Tuscany, Italy
Jun 8, 2025World Oceans Day
Dec 5, 2024Tufa formation on Mono Lake, California, United States
Dec 28, 2024Dudhsagar Falls, Goa
Aug 16, 2024Roller coaster in Nagashima Spa Land, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Jul 10, 2025Guru Purnima
Connecting the dots
Feb 21, 2024Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Apr 23, 2025Shakespeare Day
Where is this historical bridge?
An oasis in the desert
Centuries of time in a Delicate Arch
Sep 28, 2024Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida, USA
May 19, 2024Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
Apr 22, 2024Earth Day
Himalaya mountain range
Man-made, meandering Lake Powell
Incan ingenuity
Jul 5, 2025Tour de France
Rising with the sun
You otter check this out
For Mother’s Day, we salute these marsupial moms
Jan 15, 2025Chital, Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Where are these magnificent cliffs?
A triumphant pose
Sep 22, 2023World Rhinoceros Day
Winter wonderland for your wallet
May 12, 2025An iris garden in Tokyo, Japan
Nov 4, 2023American bison
In the spotlight