The heart of the Sanctuary of Loyola is the Tower of Loyola, the birthplace of St. Ignatius. It is a noble building of the XIV-XV centuries divided into a lower part of stone, which evokes its past as a fortress, and an upper part of brick. It consists of 4 floors, and the itinerary of the visit is also an itinerary through the life and conversion process of Ignatius of Loyola.
Iñigo de Loyola was born for the first time in this house in 1491 and for the second time in 1522, when he decided to leave this place to become a pilgrim and live in Jerusalem, following Jesus Christ and the example of the apostles. He lived his childhood and adolescence until he was 16 years old within these walls of the Tower House, sharing with his family and servants. Here he forged his personality and values linked to the medieval nobility of his family. Called to serve in the court of King Ferdinand the Catholic and then of Emperor Charles V, he finished his military career in the battle of Pamplona in 1521, fighting against the pro-independence Navarrese and the French. Returning home to recover from his wounds, he underwent a profound spiritual transformation that oriented him towards the life of a pilgrim. He left here in 1522 thinking he would never return. Today, this place is also the beginning of the Ignatian Way, which follows his Autobiography through the lands of Spain.
- Address
Loiola Auzoa Gunea 16, Loiola, Gipuzkoa - Web
https://loyola.global/en/birthplace-of-saint-ignatius - Visiting Hours
Winter time from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:30 to 19:00. Summer time from 10:00 to 19:00 - What to see
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