Gary Snapper

Bilbao Bloggings

The rain in Spain is mainly in Bilbao

www.gabrielsnapper.co.uk/bilbao-bloggings
  • Home
  • English
  • Family
  • Choral
  • Arts
  • Photos
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Links
  • Bilbao Bloggings
  • Midland Missives

The Road to Santiago: Bilbao Architecture 3

2/5/2013

3 Comments

 
There´s not a lot left of medieval Bilbao apart from the street plan of the atmospheric old town. The only remnants are the late Gothic churches. Although some look great on the outside but have been liberally Baroque-ified inside, most still have their medieval interiors relatively unspoilt. Five churches in particular, all lining the northern branch (‘Camino del Norte’) of the Santiago de Compostella pilgrimage route, which goes through Bilbao, are worthy of note.

Pilgrims on their way to Santiago would first come to Nostra Senora di Begoña, apparently Biscay’s most powerful church in medieval times, on the hill above the old town. This church (the current building early 16th century, apart from the baroque spire) is built in a typical Basque style which can be found all over the Basque country, with a tall, square, hall-like nave – like the Germanic ‘hallenkirche’.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The church at Begona can be seen in many views of the city, nestled on the top of the hill over the river. Once surrounded by green hills, it is now in the middle of a residential suburb.

Picture
Picture
Down the hill, by one of the gates into the old town, the Portal di Zamudio, pilgrims would next come to Santos Juanes, with its attached convent, now the Basque Museum.

Picture
Next they would reach the church of St James – Santiago – the 15th century cathedral (with a 19th century façade) in the centre of the old town – very small for a cathedral, and not originally built as a cathedral, but a fine building. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
This church has the covered porch and arcading that is very typical of Basque churches – presumably because of the rain that falls on 50% of the days of the year.

Picture
Picture
The city´s earliest church, however, and the one pilgrims would encounter as they left the city en route to Santiago, is San Anton, which occupies a crucial site by the medieval bridge and market place. Like many Basque churches, too, it has had a Baroque bell-shaped dome added to the tower.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Nearby there is also the church of the convent of the Encarnacion, an atmospheric place where concerts of early music in Bilbao are generally held.

Picture
After leaving Bilbao, one would work through the meadows where the new town is now built, passing the church of San Vicente

Picture
Picture
Picture
And on to the town of Portugalete by the sea at the end of the estuary:

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
These tall, buttressed churches stand at the centre of most Basque towns. Here is another one in the town of Elorrio (near the mountains in the centre of Euskadi):

Picture
Picture
Here's one in Gernika:
Picture
And one at Vitoria:
Picture
3 Comments
tony
15/7/2017 01:38:40 am

nice

Reply
assignment writing help link
17/7/2017 12:29:49 am

Here we can see the many more historical places and this one is famous in all over the world. I have seen many places but this one is best and beautiful place. This world is precious gift of God for us.

Reply
website link
5/8/2020 05:01:17 am

Thanks for updating us easy tips and models to understand, the great videos I have found and getting the more tips. This rhino arch school is always making us knowledgeable,thanks.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Bilbao Bloggings

    A year in Bilbao

    Archives

    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

Proudly powered by Weebly