University of Oñati, Oñati, Spain

The University of Oñati was founded in 1540. Until its closure in 1901, it was the only university in the Spanish Basque Country. Its building is now the home of the International Institute for the Sociology of Law.

Founded in 1540 by the Bishop of Avila, Rodrigo Mercardo de Zuazola under the authority of a bull of Pope Paul III, the University of the Holy Spirit was originally located in Hernani, but in 1548 moved to Oñati. The University specialised in theology, law, canon law, the arts and medicine and was strictly limited to Catholics until 1869, when it was opened to all. The institution closed in 1901. Since 1989, the building houses the International Institute for Sociology of Law (IISL).

In 1931 the building was declared a National Historic Monument. It is one of the most remarkable Renaissance buildings of the Basque Country, and was built in the Plateresque style. Construction of the building began in 1543 by the master stone mason Domingo de la Carrera and the sculptor Pierre Picart.

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User Reviews

Pedro Gonzalez De Durana Diaz (3 years ago)
It is beautiful, I have to say that I have seen the old university and the church with a guide and I have been delighted to repeat the agu

Ibrahim Abubakar (4 years ago)
Muy limpio y chulo?

Pisadiel (5 years ago)
University of Oñate (1540), called the University of Sancti Spiritus, in Oñati (Gipuzkoa, Euzkadi), which from 1540 to 1901 functioned as the only university in the Basque Country. Founded, by means of the bull of Pope Paulo III (1534-49), by the humanist from Oñati Don Rodrigo Sáez de Mercado de Zuazola (1460-1548), governor of Navarra (1512), president of the Royal Chancery of Granada (1525-30) and royal councilor, bishop of Mallorca (1512-30) and Ávila (1530-48). The university occupied this 'eclectic' building -plateresque, Mudejar and Renaissance- (1543-48), which was built under the patronage of King Carlos I of Spain (1516-56) and the patronage -donation of all his goods- of Don Rodrigo Mercado, under the direction of the master architect Domingo de la Carrera and the master sculptor and French altarpiece Pierre Picart. It has a square plan with a large interior patio and two turrets, galleries, a chapel and large rooms. Two floors saved by stone staircase, Mudejar coffered ceiling. Today the installation is occupied by the Iñati International Institute of Legal Sociology (1988).

Juan_P (5 years ago)
Well what we have seen from the outside is not bad!

gabriella (6 years ago)
This university, located opposite the Onati tourist office, was founded in 1542 and until its closure in 1902, was the only university in the Basque country. Nice building to see

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