Markina, formerly known as Villaviciosa de Markina, was founded, by Tello, Count of Bizkaia, in 1355. The townspeople requested its foundation in order to be able to defend themselves from attacks by Guipuzcoan faction groups. The town is known as the University of Pelota (a Basque ball game played in a walled court) as it has a pelota court, built in 1883, that at the time of its creation and for many years, was the only covered court in the region, therefore many of the most famous Basque pelota players would come here to train.
The locality offers the chance to visit the
church of San Miguel de Aretxinaga, a small baroque church built after 1736 on the site of an older church from the 13th century and around curious rock formations. The layout is hexagonal with masonry walls and the façade is crowned by a baroque steeple with ironwork influences. Inside, six large pentagonal pillars hold the work together, using six round arches that form minimal barrel vaults. The three stones that gave rise to the legend are in the centre of the temple, covered by a wooden six-pitched roof. This temple has an image of Saint Michael from the 16th century and is striking because of the three limestone rocks in suspension.
