On 26 April 1937, the Basque town of Guernica suffered a devastating attack that would forever change the course of its history. Described as an ´experimental horror´, the attack inspired the artist from Malaga, Pablo Picasso, to immortalise the savagery of the bombing in his internationally-renowned painting ´Guernica´.
The route includes visits to the following locations of interest:
1-Air-raid shelter in Santa María Street. An unfinished shelter consisting of a structure built from a series of thick wooden beams.
2- Reproduction of Picasso´s ´Guernica´. Picasso had no clear idea about the subject to be depicted in this mural until on 26 April of that same year inspiration arrived in the form of the bombing of Guernica.
3- Outside of the Assembly House. Why Guernica? Nothing could have hurt the Basque Country more. Find out why.
4- Balcón Sacafaltas Walk. Over 85% of the town was razed to the ground by the bombing. From this elevated vantage point you can see the whole of the new part of town, which was reconstructed from scratch after the tragedy.
5- Air-raid shelters along the Balcón Sacafaltas Walk. The complete facility comprises 4 tunnels, built at a depth of 10 metres. A huge number of people took refuge here during the bombing, and it was almost impossible to breathe due to lack of oxygen.
6- The Astra air-raid shelter. The building was ´hidden´ under a false roof which, from a bird´s- eye view, was designed to look like the roof of a normal house (trompe l’oeil).
General information
- The air-raid shelter in Santa María Street (now the Tourist Information Centre).
- Reproduction of Picasso's 'Guernica'.
- The outside of the Assembly House.
- The Balcón Sacafaltas. Explanation of the bombing.
- The shelters along the Balcón Sacafaltas Walk.
- The Astra air-raid shelter.
Does not include travel to the location of the experience
10 people
1 hours 30 minutes
Monday to Friday: 10:00 and 10:30
(Closed August)
More information: Gernika-Lumo Tourist Office:
946 255 892
English, Spanish, Basque