Legazpi Tower

Jauregi Handia dorretxea, Legazki Dorrea or as it is known in the village, Legazpi Etxea (Legazpi House), is the birthplace of the Philippine Islands colonizer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. The tower was built in the Middle Ages and had much to do with the War of the Major Nobles.

Once the war was over, they were forced to demolish the offensive and defensive elements and since then it has been sold and bought several times. Its last owners used the tower as a farmhouse, this happened in the eighteenth century. For this reason, it currently has a rectangular floor plan with four floors and a roof on two sides. The lower part is made of ashlar masonry, while the two upper floors are made of brick and have the wooden structure exposed. Part of the old gardens are preserved in the surroundings of the building.

In the 40’s, due to the expansion desires of the company “Esteban Orbegozo, S.A.” in the area, the tower was declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument. In 1964 the Spanish-Philippine Museum was installed. Between 1980 and 1990 it was rebuilt by the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa. It is currently used for numerous cultural activities, such as exhibitions, conferences, meetings, weddings…. It is also the headquarters of the Secundino Esnaola Music School.