Azpeitia

Azpeitia, a town in the Spanish province of Guipuzcoa, situated in a fine valley on the Urola, 18 miles SW. of San Sebastian. A mile from it is the famous convent of Loyola, now converted into a museum, built somewhat in the form of an eagle with outspreading wings by the Roman architect, Fontana, in 1683. It comprises a tower of the Santa Casa, in which St Ignatius of Loyola, the great founder of the Jesuits, was born in 1491. Here every year in July a great festival is held in his honour, to which pilgrims flock from all quarters. Pop. 6386.