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In front of the Sanctuary of Urkiola, known as that of the Santos Antonios (in honor of San Antonio Abad and San Antonio de Padua), there is a symbolic stone that is a place of pilgrimage for those who want to find a partner quickly.
And, according to legend, you only need to turn the stone three times to achieve it, although others believe that you have to turn seven times to find love (or keep it). Be that as it may, surely more than one would be willing to give more if it ensures that they find their better half.
Also on the outside of this sanctuary there are three elements that symbolize the way of life of Bizkaia: the anchor represents the seafaring life; the laya (farm tool) refers to agricultural life and a foundry turbine alludes to industrial life.
This sanctuary, which we see portrayed in The Readers' Photos of La Vanguardia, takes us to the Urkiola Natural Park, in the highest altitude terrain of the Sierra de Aramotz.
This place arises as a great limestone barrier between the Vizcan counties of Arratia, Duranguesado and the Alavés valley of Aramaio, separating also the Cantabrian and Mediterranean basins.
The Urkiola Natural Park is home to a series of limestone mountains and rocks, with ravines and deep valleys, as well as peaks that attract hikers. The most popular peak is Anboto, which is the highest, where the Mari cave has survived to this day as a mythological reference.
