The University of Oñati (; ), officially the University of the Holy Spirit or 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 in
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
. 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.
History
Founded in 1540 by the
Bishop of Avila,
Rodrigo Sánchez Mercado under the authority of a
bull
A bull is an intact (i.e., not Castration, castrated) adult male of the species ''Bos taurus'' (cattle). More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e. cows proper), bulls have long been an important symbol cattle in r ...
of
Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III (; ; born Alessandro Farnese; 29 February 1468 – 10 November 1549) 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 papal throne in an era follo ...
, 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).
Building
In 1931 the building was declared a National Historic Monument. It is considered 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 language, Spanish), was an artistic movement, especially Architecture, architectural, developed in Spanish Empire, Spain and its territories, which appeared ...
style.
Construction of the building began in 1543 by the master stonemason Domingo de la Carrera and the sculptor Pierre Picart.
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References
External links
Universidad del Sancti Spiritus
{{DEFAULTSORT:Onati, University of
Buildings and structures in Gipuzkoa
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
Educational institutions disestablished in 1901
Oñati
1901 disestablishments in Spain
1540s establishments in Spain