BEGOÑA BASILICA

The Basilica of Begoña is the oldest church in the town. This beautiful baroque building, perched on the heights of Bilbao, houses a statue of the city's patron saint, Begoña. It is a magnificent architectural ensemble, all the more original in that it was taken over not by wealthy noble families as was customary in the 16th century, but by simple worshippers, most of the residents of the city of Bilbao. The shields crowning the pillars of the nave are the best way to affirm this, since none of them bears the arms of noble families, but the emblems of the merchants and corporations of the city.
If the architectural aspect of the basilica alone justifies the visit, the historical importance of the building should not be underestimated. The history of the basilica is intimately linked to Carlism. Belonging to the defensive perimeter of Bilbao during the Carlist siege in the 19th century, it was the scene of the fall of General Zumalacarregui, who was mortally wounded on 15 June 1835 near the esplanade. So it became a sanctuary for the legitimate cause. And a few years later, on this same esplanade, on August 16, 1942, a bomb exploded on the way out of mass, probably planted by Phalangists, and caused many injuries in the Carlist camp.

The church contains a beautiful neobaroque altarpiece by Modesto Echániz, dating from 1869. It also has a 1922 carillon, whose 24 bells ring out many melodies!