Azkoitia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Azkoitia
|
||
|---|---|---|
Azkoitia's central square, with Paroquia Santa Maria La Real
|
||
|
||
 Azkoitia
Location in Basque Country
|
||
| Country | Spain | |
| Autonomous community | Basque Country | |
| Province | Gipuzkoa | |
| Comarca | Urola Kosta | |
| Founded | 1331 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 54.71 km2 (21.12 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 113 m (371 ft) | |
| Population
(2018)
|
||
| • Total | 11,609 | |
| • Density | 212.192/km2 (549.57/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Spanish: azcoitano | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| Postal code |
20720
|
|
Azkoitia is a town located in the Gipuzkoa province in northern Spain. It is part of the Basque Country, which is a special region in Spain. Azkoitia is also the main town of its own local government area, called a municipality.
Where is Azkoitia?
Azkoitia is found in the upper Urola river valley. The town sits on a flat area of land surrounded by the Basque mountains. While the valley itself is quite flat, the land around it is rugged, with mountains reaching almost 950 meters high.
Who Lives in Azkoitia?
In 2004, about 10,946 people lived in Azkoitia. The population was almost evenly split between men and women.
Here's a quick look at the age groups:
- Kids and teenagers (0 to 17 years old) made up about 16% of the population.
- Adults (18 to 54 years old) were the largest group, making up about 54%.
- Senior citizens made up the remaining 30%.
Azkoitia's History
Azkoitia is famous for being the birthplace of the mother of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Saint Ignatius was a very important person who founded a religious group called the Jesuit order.
His maternal grandfather, Don Martin Garcia de Licona, bought a building called Balda Tower in the mid-1400s. At that time, there were many fights in the region. Because of this, the king, Henry IV of Castile, changed the tower from a strong fortress into a courthouse.
On July 13, 1467, Don Martin's daughter, Dona Marina Saenz de Licona Balda, married Don Beltran Ibanez de Onaz y Loyola. He was from the nearby town of Azpeitia. Their wedding happened in the Licona family home in Azkoitia. The original paper that recorded their wedding still exists today!
Even though Saint Ignatius's mother was from Azkoitia, his birth house is actually in the nearby community of Azpeitia. This house is now a museum and part of a large Jesuit center. It is a major place for tourists to visit.
See also
In Spanish: Azcoitia para niños
Images for kids
-
A boulevard across the river from Azkoitia's old central square
