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Loyola Sanctuary

Loiola Auzoa Gunea, Loiola, Euskadi

Description

The Sanctuary of Loyola is a religious complex built in the late 17th/early 18th centuries around the birthplace of Ignacio de Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, a.k.a. the Jesuits. The main structures are the sanctuary that envelops the 'Holy House' and the basilica which is notable for its Baroque portico fronted by a monumental staircase and its 20m wide dome with allegorical representations of the eight virtues made in stucco.

Access & Transport

The complex is located in Azpeitia (on the way to/from Azkoitia), 40km west of San Sebastian and 20km north of Zumarraga, the closest train station. There are some direct buses from San Sebastian. From San Sebastian by car, take the AP-8 expressway and after 26km exit 48 onto GI-631 until Azpeitia then right towards Azkoitia for 1km. Directions info under "getting here" on this page: https://loyola.global/en/basilica#

Instructions & Recommendations

We suggest combining this activity with the Azpeitia Railway Museum, a 10min drive away. Alternatively, the coastal village of Getaria with its Balenciaga Museum (with exhibits from the fashion designer) is 25km to north and makes a good combination as a day trip from San Sebastian.

Meta review

The sanctuary and basilica tend to feature in regional travel guides but do not appear to be very popular with travel bloggers and magazines. Online reviews are a little inconsistent in terms of aesthetics except the dome that draws near unanimous praise. Some find it grey and austere whilst other find the complex magnificent - the weather and light could play a part in these differing perceptions. Recurring positive comments about the friendly and helpful staff and the information made available via QR codes (bring your headset).

Environmental & Social

Low carbon footprint and preserves the region's architectural heritage

Conclusion

The Sanctuary and Basilica are interesting from a cultural and architectural aspect, respectively. A visit there is a good opportunity to learn about the Jesuits order and the life of its founder. May not be worth a special trip for those not really interested in religious history but if you are passing through the area then it is definitely worth a stop.

Key positive

Majestic façade and dome

Informative

Key negative

Unreliable practical info on the monument's website

Suitability

No info provided but given the staircase, a visit of the basilica looks challenging for wheelchair users

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

August 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Visiting hours may be longer the summer but the website is outdated and/or unclear

av. transport time:0h 45m

est. visit time:1h 15m

Regulated hours
Period 1

MONDAY10:00 - 13:00

TUESDAY10:00 - 13:00

WEDNESDAY10:00 - 13:00

THURSDAY10:00 - 13:00

FRIDAY10:00 - 13:00

SATURDAY10:00 - 13:00

SUNDAY10:00 - 13:00

Period 2

MONDAY15:30 - 19:00

TUESDAY15:30 - 19:00

WEDNESDAY15:30 - 19:00

THURSDAY15:30 - 19:00

FRIDAY15:30 - 19:00

SATURDAY15:30 - 19:00

SUNDAY15:30 - 19:00

Pricing
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
€3
Adult
18 - 64
€4
Teen & Young
12 - 17
€3
Child
3 - 11
€0
Infant
0 - 2
€0
Pricing info is not disclosed on the website so this is an educated guess based on online reviews

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