Basilica of Loyola

The Sanctuary and Basilica of Loyola is a monumental and religious complex whose construction was begun by the Jesuits in the second half of the 17th century around the birthplace of St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. It is set on the banks of the River Urola between the towns of Azpeitia and Azcoitia. The project was commissioned to the prestigious Italian architect Carlo Fontana. The works began in 1688 and the master builders were first of all Martin de Zaldúa and later, in the 18th century, Sebastian de Lecuona and Ignacio de Ibero. The work continued almost up to the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain in 1767 and it was restarted in the 19th century by the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa.