Basílica de Santa María

Biscay Province


Portugalete's impressive basilica (1580) stands atop an earlier 14th-century church that originally marked the town's highest point. A striking structure, it's largely Gothic with flying buttresses, gargoyles and austere sandstone walls; the bell tower was a later 18th-century addition. Inside, the carved wood Renaissance-era altarpiece is a highlight.


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Nearby Biscay Province attractions

1. Torre de Salazar

0.03 MILES

This stubby four-storey tower was originally part of a defensive complex built by the local Salazar family during a period of baronial fighting in the…

2. Plaza del Solar

0.1 MILES

At the foot of Portugalete's medieval centre, this cobbled square makes for a fine photo with its handsome 19th-century buildings and august monument to…

3. Rialia Museo de la Industría

0.17 MILES

Learn about Portugalete's industrial history at this small waterfront museum. Displays, which include paintings, models and machinery parts, chart the…

4. Puente Colgante

0.23 MILES

Designed by Alberto Palacio, a disciple of Gustave Eiffel, the Unesco World Heritage–listed Puente Colgante (also known as the Vizcaya or Bizkaia Bridge)…

5. Paseo de las Grandes Villas

0.9 MILES

The Paseo is the unofficial name given to Getxo's seafront – made up of Muelle de Las Arenas Areeta and Calle Marques de Arriluce e Ibarra. The 'Villas'…

6. Casa Cisco

1.04 MILES

This small 1911-built mansion is one of several designed and built by Bilbao architect Manuel María Smith in the early 20th century. It's not open to the…

7. Palacio Lezama-Legizamón

1.3 MILES

A local landmark, this castle-like mansion was originally built in 1902 but was subsequently revamped by Manuel María Smith in 1921. Its central tower is…

8. Galerías de Punta Begoña

1.44 MILES

This massive stone structure was built in 1919 as a continuation of Getxo's defensive wall. It's an impressive sight, complete with columns and a…