Page 8 - YGARTUA: Magnum Opus - volume two

Gorliz, Vizcaya: The town
of Gorliz was farmland, with
traditional Basque farmhouses, the
church and square situated on the
Bahia de Gorliz, one of the most
beautiful beaches in the Basque Country.
Today, Gorliz has a population of 9,000,
a thriving Basque resort town just 20
minutes from Bilbao.
Atlantic with three farmhouses, Amezaga, el
Amwzaga: Family caserio (the farmhouse,
Amezaga, is just over 300 years old) El
caserio, Amezaga, where my Father and
his brothers were born and now where
my cousin Javi Ygartua, his wife Josune
Mendia (The Mendia Wine Family) and
family have taken pride in renovating and
restoring this traditional caserio. Pacho
Francisco Ygartua –mi abuelo, was the
grand chef, the Mayo Domo (head chef)
with 100 chefs under him on La Reina del
Pacifico in the 30’/40s, the largest ocean
4
liner at that time. He had the foresight to
invest in this most precious farm belt just
above the Atlantic Ocean. This land took
over half the mountain side, just above the
Molino and Recaldes, a large shoeing farm
for the work horses. During the Civil War
the Guardia Civil destroyed the farm land
for a short while as they rode through the
farmland using it for training and a place to
keep their horses. My Father often talked
of my grandfather and grandmother, the
character and strength of a young couple
that took on a great deal of responsibility
during difficult times. My grandmother
ran the farm, with employees and her six
children during my grandfather’s absence.