The University of Oñati (in Basque ''Oñatiko Unibertsitatea''; in Spanish ''Universidad de Oñate''), the official name being the University of the Holy Spirit (Sancti Spiritus), was a University founded in 1540 and located in the

Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...

town of

Oñati Oñati ( eu, Oñati, es, Oñate) is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in the north of Spain. It has a population of approximately 10,500 and lies in a valley in the center of the Basqu ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. Until its closure in 1901, it was the only university in the

Spanish Basque Country The Basque Country (; eu, Euskadi ; es, País Vasco ), also called Basque Autonomous Community ( eu, Euskal Autonomia Erkidegoa, links=no, EAE; es, Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco, links=no, CAPV), is an autonomous community of Spain. It ...

. Its building is now the home of the

International Institute for the Sociology of Law The International Institute for the Sociology of Law (IISL) in Oñati is the only international establishment which is entirely devoted to teaching and promoting the sociology of law, Sociology of law, socio-legal studies, and Sociology of law, law ...

History

Founded in 1540 by the

Bishop of Avila A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

Rodrigo Sánchez de Mercado Rodrigo is a Spanish, Portuguese and Italian name derived from the Germanic name ''Roderick'' (Gothic ''*Hroþareiks'', via Latinized ''Rodericus'' or ''Rudericus''), given specifically in reference to either King Roderic (d. 712), the last Vis ...

( es) under the authority of a

bull A bull is an intact (i.e., not castrated) adult male of the species ''Bos taurus'' (cattle). More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e., cows), bulls have long been an important symbol in many religions, includin ...

Pope Paul III Pope Paul III ( la, Paulus III; it, Paolo III; 29 February 1468 – 10 November 1549), born Alessandro Farnese, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 October 1534 to his death in November 1549. He came to ...

, the University of the Holy Spirit was originally located in

Hernani Hernani may refer to: *Hernani, Eastern Samar, a municipality in Eastern Samar, Philippines *Hernani, Gipuzkoa, a town in Gipuzkoa, Basque Autonomous Community, Spain * ''Hernani'' (drama), a Romantic drama by Victor Hugo *Hernani CRE, a Spanish ru ...

, but in 1548 moved to

. 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).

Building

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 Plateresque, meaning "in the manner of a silversmith" (''plata'' being silver in Spanish), was an artistic movement, especially architectural, developed in Spain and its territories, which appeared between the late Gothic and early Renaissance in ...

style. Construction of the building began in 1543 by the master stonemason Domingo de la Carrera and the sculptor Pierre Picart.

References

External links

Universidad del Sancti Spiritus

Instituto Internacional de Sociología Jurídica
{{DEFAULTSORT:Onati, University of Buildings and structures in the Basque Country (autonomous community) Educational institutions established in the 1540s Education in the Basque Country (autonomous community) Renaissance architecture in the Basque Country (autonomous community) Defunct universities and colleges in Spain