Free walking tours in Azpeitia and what to see

Must-sees

Azpeitia lies in the Urola valley, in inland Gipuzkoa, and its name is bound up with Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Less than two kilometres from the centre stands the Sanctuary of Loyola, a great Baroque complex designed by Carlo Fontana, with a basilica crowned by an enormous dome. Within the complex you can visit the Loyola family tower house, where the saint was born, now a chapel and museum.

In the old town, the church of San Sebastián de Soreasu stands out, with several chapels, a large altarpiece and the font where Saint Ignatius was baptised. Stroll too past the tower houses and palaces of the centre, such as the Enparan tower house, the Basozabal house, the oldest in town, and the Mudéjar-style Antxieta palace. The Basque Railway Museum, in the former Urola railway station, displays historic locomotives and carriages.

Free tours and guided visits

Azpeitia has no regular free walking tours, but there are guided visits. You can take a tour of the old town, with its churches and tower houses, and a guided visit to the Sanctuary of Loyola and the saint’s birthplace. The Basque Railway Museum has its own tour of the collections. From San Sebastián and Bilbao there are excursions that include Loyola along with coastal towns.

How long to spend

Half a day is enough for the Sanctuary of Loyola and the birthplace. If you add the old town and the Basque Railway Museum, give it the whole day. With two days you can cycle the Urola greenway or head down to the coast, to Zumaia and Zarautz. At the end of July, the San Ignacio festivities bring the town to life.

Where to stay

You can stay in central Azpeitia, convenient for getting around on foot, or next to the Sanctuary of Loyola, a quieter area. In the surroundings there are rural farmhouses, ideal if you have a car. Azkoitia, a few kilometres away, has a little more choice, and if you prefer the coast, Zumaia or Zarautz are close and work as a base.