Arkaia, currently known by its Spanish spelling Arcaya, is a hamlet on the eastern side of Vitoria in the Basque Country. In 2012 it had 369 inhabitants
Roman remains: There are archeological remains of a Ancient Rome bathhouse that were discovered in the 18th century by Lorenzo Prestamero. Only a fraction of the Roman settlement remains, which covered an estimated 19 hectares of land. In 1976 the archaeologist Ramón Loza Lengaran dug the bathhouse remains and categorised them as likely for public use. Recent digs have indicated that the area was inhabited at least from 300 BC onwards. The Roman remains have been linked with the town of Suessatio that appears in classic sources, mostly in the Antonine Itinerary, in the Ravenna Cosmography and Ptolomeo. The proximity to the Roman road linking Asturica with Burdigala could explain the size of the settlement. During the Middle Age pilgrims from Europe started using the old Roman road in their pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela as part of the Interior Basque Route] of the Way of St. James. There is evidence of the pilgrimage in the interior of the Church of the Nativity of Mary in the center of town.
The Arcaya Family: The Arcaya family hails from this place, going back as far as the battle of Padura of Arrigorriaga in 848 in which Andres de Arcaya fought. Diego de Arcaya is another member of this family who served under James I of the Kingdom of Aragon, who returned later to settle in the town of Lekeitio. The current Arcaya Family House was built in 1132.
The first Arcaya who emigrated to the Americas was Melchor Diaz de Arcaya, who arrived in Chile, in 1630, settling in Colina The Arcayas were large landowners in Chile, mainly in the Santiago area and the surname was common in the neighborhood of Vitacura and the nearby towns of Pirque and Colina. The most prominent Arcaya is Oscar Godoy - Arcaya, Intelectual, University Professor and Ambassador
Ignacio Luis Diaz de Arcaya, arrived in Coro, Venezuela, in 1720, The Arcayas were land owners and high officials of the Spanish Crown, later the became pro Independence. The most prominent Arcaya are: 1.- Pedro Manuel Arcaya Madriz, twice Interior Minister and twice Ambassador in Washington (his library contained about half a million books, which the family donated to the National Library). 2.- Ignacio Luis Arcaya, Lawyer, Politician, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. 3.- Ignacio Arcaya, Career Diplomat, Interior Minister, Acing President of Venezuela in 1999
The most prominent Arcaya in History is Francisco Diaz de Arcaya, son of Pedro Diaz de Arcaya, who took the name of Francisco de Vitoria, when became a friar. He is known as the father of International Law (Derecho de Gentes)