Tower House of Balda

The house was built at the end of the 12th century or the beginning of the 13th century, that is to say the construction is older than the town itself.

It was originally built for defensive purposes. However, in 1456 King Enrique IV ordered to lop all the tower houses so they turn it into an ordinary building. In the period of side battles the Balda lineage joined the Gamboa side.

The main façade's coat of arms dates back to that period. The house was the birthplace of several warriors and Saint Ignatius Loyola's mother's, Doña Marina Sáez de Licona y Balda. That is the reason why a chapel was built later on, consecrated to the saint. Untill the 16th century these walls hosted the parish church in town. Later on, the present parish church was built in lands belonging to the Bastarrica family.

The legend has it that the priest was fatally wounded by the Baldas while transferring the Holy Sacrament's image.