{"id":2699,"date":"2022-09-13T17:10:24","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T15:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sansebastian.travel\/en\/?p=2699"},"modified":"2022-09-13T17:16:02","modified_gmt":"2022-09-13T15:16:02","slug":"sanctuary-of-aranzazu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sansebastian.travel\/en\/sanctuary-of-aranzazu\/","title":{"rendered":"Sanctuary of Aranzazu (Santuario de Ar\u00e1nzazu)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you are willing to make a route through the Basque Country and if you are especially interested in the architectural and artistic heritage, you have to make a mandatory stop in the town of O\u00f1ate Why? Because there you will find a temple that is considered a real jewel, both for its structure and style and for the area in which it is located. We are referring to the Sanctuary of Ar\u00e1nzazu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has become a place of pilgrimage, like the Sanctuary of Loyola, and is erected in honor of the Virgin of Ar\u00e1nzazu, who is the patron saint of Guip\u00fazcoa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sanctuary of Ar\u00e1nzazu, a reference in Guip\u00fazcoa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the XVI century we can establish that the origin of this religious construction is in the XVI century and it was then when the legend tells that to a shepherd, Rodrigo de Balzategi, the Virgin appeared to him on top of a hawthorn tree. When he saw her there, he said in Basque: “Arantzan su?” (You on the hawthorn?).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And there began the devotion for this image that would end up leading to the construction of a small initial sanctuary, which would be followed by the one that now occupies us, located in an area of ravines and ample nature at 750 meters of altitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mercedarian friars were the first to take charge and live in this enclave, although over the years it would end up in the hands of the Dominicans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the singularities of this patrimonial jewel is that it has suffered three important fires throughout its history:<\/p>\n\n\n\n