Loyola
Land of valiant explorers, of builders of new worlds, of defiant entrepreneurs. The Basques have left their mark on history through such immortal figures as Juan Sebastián Elcano, the first navigator to sail around the world; Urdaneta and Legazpi, pioneers who opened up the Pacific route between Mexico and the Philippines; Juan de Garay, founder of the city of Buenos Aires; Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus; and Francisco de Vitoria, originator of International Law.
The enterprising spirit of the Basques has stayed strong for centuries, as evidenced in their industrial zones, their markets, their strong financial institutions, and their fishing fleets, which have sailed through all the oceans.
The mountainous terrain through which the pilgrims will be walking, with its pleasant trails, green forests, and steep inclines, will give us a chance to discover the secrets of this land in which such creative and sturdy men and women have been forged. Those who love natural landscapes will enjoy Euskadi tremendously. The diversity and beauty of its rugged landscapes is evident not only in the areas which have been designated nature reserves but also in most of the Basque territory.
AZKOITIA
Hotel Larramendi Torrea. Tel: 943 85 76 66 – www.larramenditorrea.com
Casa Rural Zulueta. Tel: 617 28 76 69 – www.agroturismo-zulueta.es
Casa Rural Landagarre. Tel: 943 85 33 30 – www.landagarre.com
Albergue Abaraxka. Tel: 679 46 44 73 – www.abaraxka.eus
AZPEITIA
Albergue jesuitas Loyola. Tel: 943 025 000 www.loyola.global/es/albergue
Albergue Jesús-María. Tel: 943 811 034 www.jesus-maria.org/loyola/
Hotel Larrañaga. Tel: 943 81 11 80 – www.hotel-larranaga.com
Hotel Loyola. Tel: 943 15 16 16 – www.hotelloiola.com
CEL Loyola. Tel: 943 02 50 25 – www.loyola.global/es/cel
Casa Rural Txanpardin. Tel: 658 73 81 53 – www.txanpardin.com
Albergue Xoxote Aterpetxea. Tel: 943 58 10 07 – www.xoxotekoaterpea.com
The Ignatian Way begins, appropriately, at the sanctuary of Loyola, nestled among hills in Spain’s Basque region. It is the home of one of world and religious history’s most remarkable figures.
Ignatius was born in 1491, in the old Casa Torre Gipuzkoa. The four story castle still stands. You’ll find it just inside the outer walls of the shrine complex; its interior has been beautifully re-imagined as a museum. Tour the museum, and, above all, be sure to spend time in the room (now a chapel) where Ignatius convalesced after his battle injury at Pamplona in 1521. Ignatius’s Autobiography describes how he read a life of the saints in this room, and, inspired by it, slowly began to conceive of serving God with his own life, in imitation of the great saints. His first steps along this new life path were to embark on his pilgrimage. So it could not be more fitting that your pilgrimage (just like his) would begin in this room, and be sure to pray for his intercession for the success of your journey.
While you are in the museum, also be sure to visit the exhibits which tell the story of Ignatius’s life, and, just outside the shrine buildings, visit the nearby ‘farmhouse’ where he spent much time as a young child in the company of his nursemaid’s family.
The Jesuits warmly welcome all pilgrims to this holy place. To make the most of your visit, have a look at the shrine’s website: website of the Shrine of Loyola. Tourism: visitors Sanctuary: youth hostel. A very good place to sleep in Loyola is the hostel of Jesus-María.
Azpeitia (meaning ‘down the rock’ in Basque) is a town and municipality within the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country of Spain, located on the Urola river a few kilometres east of Azkoitia. Its population is 14,305 (2010 estimate). It is located 44 miles southwest of Donostia/San Sebastián. Azpeitia is the birthplace of Ignatius of Loyola. His birth home is now preserved as a part of large Jesuit compound, the Sanctuary of Loyola, a major attraction of tourist and pilgrims alike. Azpeitia lies at the foot of the massif Izarraitz towering over the town and much visited by town-dwellers.
Consult the website of the council to visit the monuments and understand its history.
on 11-12Aviso/Incidencia Se van a ejecutar obras de modificación en la línea de ferrocarril entre las localidades de Rincón del Soto y Alfaro (La Rioja). No sabemos la duración de las obras que modifican la ruta original. Una vez salidos de Rincón del Soto y llegados a un paso a nivel de la carretera, giramos a la izquierda hasta llegar a un camino marcado como Muga del Confín, que seguimos a nuestra derecha. Al llegar a un cruce perpendicular, giramos de nuevo a la izquierda para alejarnos de las vías del tren, pero no mucho, porque en el primer cruce volvemos a la derecha y seguimos todo recto, bordeando al final una cantera, que nos lleva cerca del centro hípico “La Venta”. En este punto retomamos el trazado normal del Camino Ignaciano.
The weather in Loyola
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