Azpeitia

Azpeitia is a town in Gipuzkoa, located in the Urola Erdia valley at the foot of the Izarraitz massif, in the heart of the Basque Country. It is closely associated with Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, and its most prominent landmark is the Sanctuary of Loyola — a Baroque complex of international renown standing one kilometre from the town centre. The ensemble includes the medieval tower-house where Saint Ignatius was born, now integrated into a circular-plan basilica topped by an imposing dome. Azpeitia is also the starting point of the Ignatian Way, a pilgrimage route that traces the footsteps of the saint across the Basque Country.

The historic town centre reflects its medieval origins and rewards a careful visit: the parish church of San Sebastián de Soreasu, the Enparan tower-house, the Antxieta palace and several historic manor houses and hermitages make up a coherent and characterful ensemble. The Basque Railway Museum, which holds an extensive collection of restored rolling stock, adds a further layer of cultural interest.

The Izarraitz massif, with its rocky ridgelines and summits such as Erlo and Xoxote, frames the town and rounds out an identity in which history, heritage and landscape are closely intertwined.