Amurrio is a town and municipality located in the northwest part of the province of Álava, in the Basque Country, northern Spain.

It is, thus, a town with an old flavour, while at the same time, as one sees in its architecture and the strength of its industry, it is full of youthful vigour.

The great change, nevertheless, occurred a few years later with the setting up of major steel companies; which, with their promise for the future, attracted people form other lands.

They brought Amurrio their rich human diversity, and the population doubles in the ten years leading up to 1975.

Nowadays, between Amurrio and Llodio are located two of the most significant steel tube producers of the Basque Country and Europe: Tubacex and Tubos Reunidos.

In order to encourage its use, the town hall launches more than a campaign and learning programme per year, such as Euskaraz Bizi eguna, where every citizen is invited to participate in activities and conferences in Basque.

It is mainly dedicated to renewable energies (air, water, sun and biomass) and supports sustainable energetic practices.

It goes over the career of Manuel Acha's distillery, who was founded in 1831 and has some well-known brands such as Karpy liqueur or Sierra de Orduña pacharan.

[11] Here we find a pointed arch and cantilevers from the old Romanesque church, dating from the middle or late 13th century, still preserved.

Alongside, according to old papers, it was the Hospital of San Antón which on occasion afforded shelter to travellers making the pilgrimage to the shrine of St James.

Ever since its construction, a gala is yearly celebrated to honour special citizens who have collaborated to improve the town and town-life.

The gentle hills surrounding Amurrio, such as the nearby Sierra Salvada and the forest of Altube, invite one to walk, to get up and move.

Shepherds' trails, routes taken by traders and roads of historical interest are to be found throughout these valleys, forests and mountains.

A little further on, taking a sandy route that branches off, we enter Monte Santiago, a protected natural area with plentiful beech trees belonging to the region of Castile and León.

At the boundary we find the remains of an old wolves' lair and a balcony overlooking the cascade, with a fall of nearly 300 metres, formed by the Nervión river.

If we take the Balmaseda road from Amurrio we soon arrive to Zaraobe, a high area where, until 1841, the village and district councils of the Tierra de Ayala held their meetings.

On the left the imposing Sierra Salvada can be seen, at the height of more than 1,000 metres; while the road skirts hillocks on which sheep and cattle graze.

This chapel contains the alabaster tombs of Don Pedro and of his wife Leonor de Guzmán, as well as the copy of a Gothic altarpiece to be found in a museum in Chicago.

Remains of the ancient walls, narrow streets with singular building and well-preserved fortress towers are the main features of this small town.

In about an hour and a half, one passes over the crest and has the opportunity to enjoy a splendid view of the Tierra de Ayala, the mountains of Biscay, northern Burgos and Cantabria.