Page 143 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

THE BASQUE C OUNTR Y  141

19th century, it was y Oñati
occupied by the Guipúzcoa. Road Map B4. * 11,300.
French and was the @ n San Juan Kale 14; 943 78 34 53.
capital of Guipúzcoa _ San Miguel (29 Sep–4 Oct).
province during the ∑ oinati.eu/turism
Carlist Wars (see p45).
Its renowned carnival A walk through old Oñati is a
was held even during real treat for architecture
the Franco era, and its enthusiasts. The Universidad
November choral music de Sancti Spiritus – designed
festival is one of the Colourful houses along the river in Tolosa by Picart and Gibaja – was the
best in the country. first Basque university, funded
Tolosa is also famous for t Bergara by Bishop Zuazola; it operated
alubias de Tolosa – a red bean Guipúzcoa. Road Map B4. * 14,900. between 1551 and 1901. The
grown around the town and £ @ n Palacio Errekalde. Tel 943 Plateresque façade is adorned
featured in hearty dishes. 76 90 03. _ San Martín de Aguirre with four pilasters and several
In the Old Town’s numerous (16 Sep). ∑ bergaraturismo.net figures referring to both
narrow streets and squares, mythological and religious
there are examples of Basque Bergara is one of the most tradition. A superb courtyard
Gothic and Baroque; one characterful of Basque country can be found within.
such building is the imposing towns, with an old centre full The Monasterio de Bidaurreta,
17th-century Gothic aisled of distinguished colleges, in turn, is a mix of Gothic,
church of Santa María. The churches and mansions built Renaissance and Mudéjar. The
church boasts cross-vaulting for aristocrats during the town’s interior contains aristocratic
and a Baroque façade Golden Age in the 16th and family tombs and two altars
designed by Martín de Carrera. 17th centuries. The first Carlist – one Baroque, the other
Under the choir is a late- War ended here in 1839 (see Plateresque in style.
Romanesque portico. p45) – the treaty was signed in The Plaza de Santa Marina is
the 17th-century Casa Iritzar, surrounded by Baroque palaces.
which features wrought-iron
r Azpeitia balconies and a coat of arms P Universidad de Sancti Spiritus
at the corner of the building. Unibertsitate Etorbidea 8. Tel 943 78 34
Guipúzcoa. Road Map B4. * 14,700. 53. Open visits by appointment only;
@ n Santuario de Loiola; 943 02 50 There are other fine build ings, phone ahead to arrange. 8 & 7
00. _ San Sebastián (19–20 Jan), San such as the 16th-century Casa
Ignacio (30 Jul), Santo Tomás (21 Dec). Arostegi, which holds
exhibitions, and the Casa Environs
As many as 360 caseríos are Jauregi (c.1500), which has From Oñati, a mountain road
preserved in the vicinity of reliefs depicting plant motifs ascends for 9 km (6 miles) to the
Azpeitia. The town itself features and figures of royal couples. Santuario de Arantzazu, which
many beautiful buildings, some Basque Gothic is represented lies in the valley at the foot of
in the Mudéjar style; these by the aisled church of Santa Alona Hill. In 1469 it is believed
include, for instance, the Casa Marina de Oxirondo, built on a shepherd saw a vision of the
Altuna, the magnificent Casa a square plan. Its tower is Virgin here. This Modernist
Anchieta – which once belonged Baroque, as is the impressive church, built to replace an earlier
to a musician employed by reredos by Miguel de Irazusta one, was designed in the 1950s
the Catholic Monarchs – and and Luis Salvador Carmona. by Javier Sáiz Oiza and Luis
the 14th-century Magdalena Also Baroque is the Iglesia Laorga. It has a tall belfry, huge
hermitage. Also well represented de San Pedro de Ariznoa, wooden altar, and doors designed
is the Plateresque style, which with its squat tower; inside is a by the sculptor Eduardo Chillida.
is evident on the windows of canvas with shepherds paying The Virgin of Arantzazu is the
the Casa Plateresca and on the homage to the infant Jesus. province’s patron.
portico of the church of San
Sebastián de Soreasu, a Gothic
structure whose tower was
built by the Knights Templar.
One of the town’s oldest
buildings is the huge medieval
Casa Torre de Enparan, now
housing the municipal library.
However, Azpeitia is most
famous for its shrine to St
Ignatius Loyola and other sites
associated with the founder of
the Jesuit order (see p142). The Universidad de Sancti Spiritus in Oñati

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