Zabaldika (Navarra) (0)

Did you know that... Zabaldika

It is situated at the foot of Mount Narbal, on the right bank of the River Arga. It was a place of noble lordship, where the Order of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem in the 13th century and Saint Mary of Roncesvalles in the 14th century had various interests. Its church, documented as early as the 12th century, was ceded in patronage by the neighbours to the Lord of Olloqui in 1424.

A little more history

During the War of the Convention, on 16 November 1794, the French, in a second attempt to reach Pamplona/Iruña, took Zabaldika and Irotz but were later rejected again, having to withdraw to their posts in Sorauren and Oloña. As in the whole valley and until the municipal reforms of 1835-1845, the place was governed by the deputy of the valley and a councillor who was elected in turn between the houses of the village. In 1802 it had a flour mill over the Arga, which was still in operation in the 20th century.

What to see in Zabaldika?

The houses are made of ashlar and represent the typical architecture of the 17th and 18th centuries. One of them has a geminated window with ogee arches. The ogee arch is a type of arch pointed upwards. The church, with Saint Stephen as its patron saint, dates from the beginning of the 13th century and has not undergone any major changes throughout its history. As was customary in the constructions of the time, the bell tower rests and rises from the section of the choir that is flanked on one side by the baptismal font, also from the 13th century, and on the other by a spiral staircase that leads up to the bell tower.

To discover

The doorway is protected by a barrel vault with three archivolts. In the presbytery, to the left of the main altarpiece, is the image of Santa María de Nieva, owner of the 17th-century Baroque hermitage of the same name on the opposite slope, on the old road to Olloki and about a kilometre away.

Festivities

The 2nd of September is the feast day of Saint Stephen and in Zabaldika they honour their patron saint on the first Sunday of that month.

Traditions

On 15 May and 5 August a pilgrimage is held to the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves in Zabaldika.

Curiosities

In the bell tower of the church of San Esteban, in two of the openings, the bells are placed, and it is said that one of them, the smallest of which is made of bronze, is the oldest in Navarre, which must have belonged to the monastery of San Salvador de Asiturri which, on the other side of the river Arga, existed in the past.

The Legend

The hermitage of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves is also called La Blanca because according to legend, the origins of the hermitage are due to the fact that a white dove representing the Virgin Mary appeared in the place.