Sanctuary of Urkiola

It is located at the heart of the Urkiola Natural Park, next to one of the historical routes linking the Cantabrian coast with the Castilian plateau and surrounded by a lush nature in which the limestone walls of the mountains of Durangaldea stand out as a background, with the Anboto as the highest altitude, where Basque mythology places the main dwelling of its highest deity, Mari (called the "Lady of Anboto").

[3] The disproportion between the enormous construction of the unfinished naves and the small bell tower of the previous temple draws the attention of the visitors.

A large staircase serves as access to the church, whose entrance is flanked by the unfinished walls of which would have been the towers and the portico.

The central nave forms a garden in which rises the small bell tower of neoclassical style, in the part that has not been occupied for worship.

This monument is made up of an anchor, a laia and a stone turbine that symbolize the seafaring, agricultural and industrial life of Biscay, respectively.

[7] Going up to the left, just at the entrance of the sanctuary, a rare stone (which many say is a meteorite[8]), invites single people to go around it seven times clockwise, as it is believed that one will find a partner if they do so (if the turns are made backward, it is said that it has the opposite effect).

As the work was left unfinished, the position of the altar was changed and it was turned upside down, leaning against the great wall that closes the nave.

The rectangular landscape chancel has given place to the choir, and on its sides are the sacristy and a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament.

These works, both on the exterior and interior, were promoted by the group of ex-missionaries belonging to the Basque diocesan missions, who took charge of the sanctuary in May 1970.

[10] On the exterior, the large access staircase was built and the top of the wall that closes the main nave was smoothed.

For the main altar a large mosaic has been built covering the wall that closes the nave and on which a stained glass window has been opened with the figures of the two Saints Anthony, the Abbot and of Padua.

Other stained glass windows were designed by José María Muñoz and made by Peli Romarategui, in a workshop in the sanctuary itself: The Urkiola area has been relevant in the beliefs of the inhabitants of these lands since prehistoric times.

Even in the absence of documentation or archaeological findings to support it, it is estimated that the antiquity of the cult in this place is prior to the Middle Ages and is linked to the entry of Christianity in these lands.

From the original building it is known that its altar faced east and was located at the entrance of the current temple and that it had a bell tower and portico.

Next to the temple, a hospital was built to serve the numerous travelers that circulated along this important route, which had a jail and an interior icehouse.

A nearby place was found for the extraction of the sandstone necessary for the construction, in Urkiolagirre, also known as Koroso mendi, which was located 150 meters from the summit within the municipality of Abadiño, which authorized its exploitation for an annual payment of 10 pesetas and the commitment to ask permission for it every time it was needed.

[14] On August 27, 1933, Bishop Mateo Múgica consecrated the church,[10] which, having enclosed the central nave with a wall and placed doors on the sides, was opened for worship.

[10] The new people in charge decided not to finish the building because of its high cost and the fact that the space available was sufficient for the celebration of the liturgy.

[16] The rock at the entrance of the temple is attributed with certain virtues that allow those who go around it clockwise seven times to find a partner (if the turns are made backward, it is said that it has the opposite effect).

The rock, which is defined as "a conglomerate of stones and pebbles and cobbles and fossils of innumerable kinds that in such a particular way have been mixed and joined with non-artificial cement", was placed in the small square where it is located on November 29, 1929, by order of the then rector of the sanctuary, Benito de Vizcarra.