Documentary on the history and experiences of San Martin neighborhood

An audiovisual work has been presented, chronicling the origin, development, and daily life of residents in Azkoitia's San Martin neighborhood.

Generic image of a library interior with a microphone and rows of chairs.
IA

Generic image of a library interior with a microphone and rows of chairs.

A new documentary has been unveiled, capturing the history and personal experiences of residents in Azkoitia's San Martin neighborhood, tracing its journey from inception to the present day.

The documentary explores the origin and development of the San Martin neighborhood, as well as the daily lives and relationships of those who lived there. To achieve this, eleven individuals over 80 years old, all of whom lived in the neighborhood during their childhood, were interviewed.
In addition to interviews, the audiovisual piece incorporates 70 old photographs, 30 current images, video footage, music, and traditional Basque verses. A total of 23 people participated in the documentary's production, including a videographer, a musician, and bertsolaris who performed the verses.
The San Martin neighborhood was established at the beginning of the 20th century to address the housing needs of workers. Driven by the then-mayor of Azkoitia, communal work was the foundation of its construction. Those without money paid for their homes through labor.
Initially, 99 houses were built, although today there are 100, as a new dwelling was added in the 1960s. These homes were inaugurated on two occasions: the first inauguration took place in 1927, and the second in 1929, attended by prominent authorities of the time.