Sanctuary of Loyola, Azpeitia, Spain

The Sanctuary of Loyola consists of a series of edifices built in Churrigueresque Baroque style around the birthplace of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus.

Ignatius of Loyola, whose real name was Iñigo López de Loyola, was the son of the Lord of Loyola, Beltrán Ibáñez de Oñaz and Marina Sánchez de Licona, member of an important Biscayan family. He was born in 1491 in his family house in Loyola.

After he died his birthplace became a place of veneration. In the seventeenth century the house where he was born was given to the Society of Jesus. The Order built there, near the birthplace of its founder, the Sanctuary of Loyola.

In 1900 the Society commissioned an altar for the sanctuary, employing metalwork artist Plácido Zuloaga, who had won international success creating intricate artworks by damascening, a technique which inlays gold and silver into iron. Zuloaga's iron structure houses panels depicting the life of St. Ignatius, and supports a damascened crucifix and candlesticks from the workshop of José Felipe Artamendi.

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User Reviews

Sajeev Jose (2 years ago)
It is the Basilica surrounding the house of St Ignatius Loyola where he was born and later had his conversion experience. It's a holy place. The house of Ignatius is beautiful and is preserved in is original glory. The room where he had his conversion is turned into a chapel. It's the centre of the world for the Jesuits and the Ignatian family.

Julian Dawson (3 years ago)
Birthplace of the founder of the Jesuit order, it has been beautifully restored in modern times, but in antiquity has developed as a basilica, a college of learning, a shrine and now, the greater part not accessible to the public is a retirement place for Jesuit priests. The publically accessible buildings are stunning, the basilica on its own is worth the visit.

Michael Mohr (3 years ago)
The second most important church for the Society of Jesus. A beautiful Baroque-style, circular church nestled in the heartland of the Basque Country. Attached is the childhood home of Saint Ignatius, now wonderfully preserved as a museum.

Andy Gustafson (3 years ago)
Gorgeous Church in fantastic museum. Lovely surrounding gardens as well.

Bernd Henne (4 years ago)
beautiful village in a wunderful landscape with the basilica of Ignacio de Liyola.

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There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.

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