In 1522, after a process of reflection and spiritual conversion, Ignatius of Loyola made a pilgrimage to Manresa (Barcelona) and began a new life that culminated in the creation of the Society of Jesus in 1540. He was later canonized, in 1622, by Pope Gregory XV. This conversion showed Ignatius himself that \u201cGod can make all things new,\u201d and changed his life forever. He notes in his autobiography that \u201csome things that he observed in his soul and which he found useful [\u2026] could be useful for others.\u201d Thus, in Manresa, he encouraged the rest to change, to follow him in his new life.<\/p>\n
The Ignatian Way, which is celebrating this year the fifth centenary of his pilgrimage (the \u201cJubilee Year\u201d), is a reflection of change: the changes undergone by a nobleman who abandoned the comfort of his velvet clothes for burlap, his boots for bare feet, and his sword for the pilgrim\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n
This change, this conversion, took place in the old Loyola tower, his birthplace, while his injured leg rested. The pious readings helped him to know \u201cthe true Christ,\u201d and reached the conclusion that only in Jesus would he find fulfillment.<\/p>\n
As humans from the twenty-first century, all this may sound like ancient history; however, we must be aware that Ignatius\u2019 experience is meant to be timeless and go deep. As Saint John of the Cross, Ignatius\u2019 contemporary mystic, once said: this experience is a \u201cliving flame of love which tenderly wounds my soul in the deepest center.\u201d<\/p>\n
The starting point of this trip, the region of Urola Erdia, together with the neighboring regions of Urola Garaia and Debagoiena, in the interior of the Province of Gipuzkoa, currently represent important destinations for cultural and religious tourism baptized under the name Ignatian Land. Their proposal is based on the figure of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and the massive historical, artistic\/cultural, and religious heritage of his time, the sixteenth century, also known as the Basque Golden Age. The central aspect that acts as the backbone of Ignatian Land is the Route of the Three Temples, an itinerary measuring 45 km that joins the Sanctuary of Loyola with the La Antigua Hermitage, as well as the latter with the Ar\u00e1nzazu Sanctuary. This path recreates the first two stages of the pilgrimage undertaken by Ignatius of Loyola, and stands out for its artistic wealth and its spiritual and religious significance.<\/p>\n
The Route of the Three Temples begins in Azpeitia, where the monumental ensemble of the Sanctuary of Loyola is located. It is made up of the Holy House \u2013the birthplace of Saint Ignatius\u2013 and the Basilica of Loyola, in Baroque style, dominated by a dome which features a clear Roman influence and is preceded by a wide portico of Churrigueresque style. The next stop on the way is the La Antigua Hermitage of Zumarraga, in Romanesque style, built in stone and wood and considered the \u201cCathedral of the Hermitages\u201d due to the incomparable beauty of its interior. Next to La Antigua, there is an Interpretation Center where the evolution of the Hermitage and the town of Zumarraga are explained. The journey ends in O\u00f1ati, at the Ar\u00e1nzazu Sanctuary, an imposing building that began to be built in 1950. Great artists of the time took part in its construction: the doors were forged by Eduardo Chillida, the altarpiece was carved by Lucio Mu\u00f1oz in polychrome wood, the stained glass windows were made by Javier \u00c1lvarez de Eulate, the paintings are by Nestor Basterretxea, and the sculptures are by Jorge Oteiza. Inside, a small image of the Virgin, patron saint of the province, is venerated.<\/p>\n
Apart from the visit to the Three Temples \u2013a \u201cmust\u201d\u2013 there are other themed routes designed by tour managers to immerse visitors in the figure of Saint Ignatius and the modus vivendi<\/em> of the sixteenth century: the \u201cA Birthplace\u201d Route travels through the regions where Saint Ignatius spent his childhood and youth; \u201cInterior Artwork\u201d reveals the most important altarpieces created during this period of euphoric construction; \u201cHumanistic Spirit\u201d puts the focus on the Sancti Spiritus University of O\u00f1ati, the first university in the Basque Country, whose building is also one of the most important exponents of the Basque Renaissance; \u201cBetween Tower-Houses and Palaces\u201d guides visitors to the most outstanding stately buildings in the region; \u201cSan Francisco de Borja in Ignatian Land\u201d brings back to life the places in the region where the Fourth Duke of Gand\u00eda was (the great-grandson of Pope Alexander VI); a granary, a farmhouse, a forge, a mill, and two museums make up the \u201cLifestyles of the Sixteenth Century\u201d Route; and \u201cVirgins\u201d highlights the carved figures of the main Virgins for whom Saint Ignatius of Loyola felt so much devotion \u2013 the Virgin of Sorrows, the Virgin of Olatz, and the Virgin of Dorleta, among others.<\/p>\n The best way to not miss a thing in terms of the wealth of Ignatian Land is to let yourself be carried away by the many professional guides specializing in heritage, history, and nature and who devote their professional lives to custom tours and personalized visits. They are also in charge of providing information to the public about the various events scheduled by the tour managers, whose work has been recognized by the European Commission, as in 2017, Ignatian Land was awarded the EDEN Award (European Destinations of Excellence) for sustainability and excellence in the management of cultural tourism destinations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n