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> Virtual visits of the Private park: VR1 y VR2
Halfway on the southern side of the park, at the foot of the hill, there is the white cemetery of Loyola. From the time when the Society occupied the Tower-House in 1682 up to 1868, i.e. for 186 years, the Jesuits who died in Loyola were buried in the ground floor of the Tower-House. The new cemetery was built in the garden in 1867 and almost immediately thereafter they were expelled from the country and deprived of their houses. The first to be buried in the new cemetery was Fr José Ramón Lasurtegui, who died in Azcoitia in 1873, when the Loyola community was exiled in Poyanne not to return till 1880. In 2002, two mosaics were placed on the sides of the niches; they are by Barboa and represent the Communion of Saints and the Resurrection of Christ.
In 2000, new paths of concrete were made across the park, benches were added, trees planted and in the central round-about a bronze monument by Fr Antonio Oteiza, OFMC, recalling Iñigo de Loyola’s vigil in Aranzazu in 1522 shortly after his conversion, when he set out for Montserrat and Manresa.
Still later, in 2003, ornamental elements have been scattered along the paths, archeological remains that had been lying in the basements: old window grilles, holy water stoups, balustrades, capitals and so on. Among them there are two unfinished solomonic columns like those of the Basilica’s main altar. It is not know whether they were left because the design was changed or because they were judged to be defective. But they do show how the inlaying was done.
The park, however, extends to the entire mountain-side offering a natural space peopled with trees, mostly beeches, grassy paths and benches, to contemplate the landscape and to meditate.
It may be difficult to find a Shrine and Spirituality Center with such a large space to seek God in nature. In addition, this is the environment in which Ignatius of Loyola was born and grew. |
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| Two unfinished columns |
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| The Spirituality Center and the Private Park |
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