Visit Arantzazu Sanctuary: Art and Spirituality in Oñati

In the valley that climbs from Oñati into the heart of Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park, the Arantzazu Sanctuary stands as both a place of pilgrimage and one of the most ambitious works of contemporary Basque art. The current basilica, designed in 1950 by Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza and Luis Laorga, is immediately recognisable by its diamond-tipped towers. Its construction brought together some of the most significant artists of 20th-century Basque culture: Jorge Oteiza created the sculptural figures of the Pietà and the Apostles on the façade; Eduardo Chillida forged the four iron entrance doors; Lucio Muñoz painted the monumental altarpiece inside; and Néstor Basterretxea executed the murals in the crypt. Entry to the sanctuary is free and it opens every day of the year. Guided visits are available at weekends and on public holidays. The sanctuary is part of the Three Temples Route and fits naturally into a wider itinerary through the Debagoiena region.