Gollano

Gollano is a district within the municipality of Améscoa Baja, situated at an elevation of 600 meters, between the Lóquiz mountain range and the rocky outcrop of Urbasa. The village spreads out along the slope of a hill and is dominated by the Church of San Bartolomé, a former collegiate church that is striking for its size and features a remarkable Gothic wooden choir stall in its choir.

At the entrance to the village stand the remains of the keep of the former Gollano Palace, a 15th-century defensive structure currently in a stabilized state of ruin, where the bases of pointed arches and traces of circular structures are still visible. In the center of the hamlet, which retains the traditional architectural style of the Améscoas region—with stone-and-wood houses and a covered washhouse—it presents a well-preserved image of its historic character.

The natural surroundings are one of its main attractions. From the village, there are direct views of the limestone cliff of the Sierra de Urbasa and the famous Balcón de Pilatos. Its proximity to the headwaters of the Urederra River and the Urbasa-Andía Natural Park makes it a strategic location for hiking and enjoying the scenery. Within its municipal boundaries lie mountains such as Basarte, Zenagua, Etxasia, Itxina, and Aldaja, which are part of the Urederra’s tributary network.

The local economy combines livestock farming with cattle and poultry operations that take advantage of the town’s proximity to the valley’s main natural resources. The patron saint festivities are held in August in honor of Saint Bartholomew. On January 17, the feast of Saint Anthony is celebrated with a neighborhood dinner, and the tradition of a children’s collection drive, adapted for the summer season, is still observed.