Bilbao Cathedral

Bilbao Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of Santiago, stands at the edge of the Casco Viejo, the old town, near the Plaza Nueva and the Siete Calles, the seven medieval streets that form the original core of the city. It is dedicated to Saint James, the patron saint of pilgrims, and its position on the Camino del Norte, the northern coastal route to Santiago de Compostela, has long made it a stop for people on the pilgrim road.

The building was begun in the fourteenth century, in the Gothic style, and was extended in the following two centuries. The result is a church with a high central nave, ribbed vaults and tall pillars, in the manner of a Basque Gothic church in the Basque Country, with a cloister that is among the quieter spaces in the old town. Bilbao grew as a port and trading town, and the church reflects the wealth of the merchants who paid for it. The cathedral designation came much later, since the diocese of Bilbao was only created in the twentieth century, and the church became its cathedral then. The main façade and the tall spire, in the neo-Gothic style, were built in the late nineteenth century and replaced a more modest earlier front. Some sources describe earlier work as Renaissance and Baroque, though the Gothic structure and the neo-Gothic additions are what most visitors will notice.

The interior has chapels with altarpieces and carved details, and its atmosphere is calm in contrast with the busy streets outside. Stained glass filters the light, and the cloister offers a quiet corner. Some visitors come mainly for the pilgrim connection, and the building is a good place to see how the church fits into the social life of the old town. Opening times vary, and some areas may be closed during services, so check the schedule before going.

The cathedral is close to many other sights in the city. The Church of San Nicolás, a baroque church by the river, and the Mercado de la Ribera, one of the largest covered markets in Europe, are a short walk away, and the old town is known for its pintxos bars, small snacks served on bread, which are the best way to eat in Bilbao. The Zubizuri Bridge, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the riverside walk of Abandoibarra lie further along the estuary, in the modern part of the city.

The visit takes about half an hour, and the cathedral fits easily into a walk through the old town. Because it lies in the old quarter, it is easily reached on foot from most central hotels.