Basilica of Begoña

The Basilica of Begoña is more than just a Christian place of worship and a historical and artistic building. For many people from Bizkaia, it is a place of pilgrimage. It is the house of “amatxu” (mother, “mama” in Basque, the mother tongue of the Basques), and there is great devotion. Even the city’s football team, Athletic de Bilbao, makes a floral offering to the Virgin every year at the start of the season, a tradition since 1930, dedicating their titles to her.

If you’re going to visit Bilbao, it is a place worth seeing.

Basilica of Begoña: an icon of Bilbao

What it is and where the Basilica of Begoña is located in Bilbao

The Basilica of Begoña has been Bizkaia‘s most beloved sanctuary for centuries and is dedicated to the Virgin of Begoña, the patroness of the Bizkaia province. It is located in an elevated area of Bilbao, on Monte Artagan, in the district that bears its name.

It is an iconic landmark of Bilbao, and you have probably already seen it in many tourist photos and videos.

Basilica of our Lady of Begoña: Legend and the beginning of its history

Its origins are believed to be from sometime between the 12th and 14th centuries. According to the legend that has been passed down through the ages, a shepherd found a statue of the Virgin on a rock. But when the locals tried to take it to a suitable place to build a church, they were unable to do so. The statue rooted itself to the ground, and a mysterious voice was heard saying, “Bego oina” (meaning “stay here”).

So, the locals left the statue where it was and built the Basilica of Begoña around it. Initially, it was a modest wooden church, very different from the building you can see today when you visit Bilbao.

We even have an inventory from 1503 that, although it does not specify its exact dimensions, mentions its contents. This allows us to know that it had a Flemish altarpiece with 14 panels depicting the life of Mary.

We also know that the building underwent reforms and that in the mid-16th century, its Gothic façade had a Mannerist triumphal arch. By the mid-17th century, Antonio de Alloytiz built an altarpiece to preside over the place.

However, the history of the Basilica of Begoña is closely intertwined with the history of Bilbao. Events such as the Napoleonic Wars and the Carlist Wars had a significant impact on its fate.

The Basilica of Begoña, One of the Main Figures in the History of Bilbao in the 19th and 20th Centuries

On August 5, 1808, Napoleon’s troops looted the sanctuary, along with almost the entire town of Bilbao. They even murdered the parish priest. Due to its position overlooking the city and the Nervión river, it became a strategically important site during the latter stages of the Napoleonic Wars.

During the First Carlist War, the Basilica was one of the main locations during the siege of Bilbao. Because of its strategic position, Zumalacárregui set up an artillery battery there, which made it a target for the liberals.

In fact, in 1835, once the liberals took over the place, they destroyed its bell tower to prevent its use by the enemy. In the process, the vaults were also destroyed.

In 1836, with the Carlists attempting to recapture the location, the liberals fortified it. Everything left of the Basilica, even the flooring, was burned by the soldiers. Only the statue was saved, having been moved by the devotees to the Casco Antiguo of the city and hidden in the Church of Santiago, now the Catedral de Santiago.

Completely destroyed and rebuilt in 1841, it still went through other challenges: its upper part was struck by lightning in 1862, bombings, attempts to set it on fire, and partial collapses during the Second Carlist War. In 1942, a bomb was thrown inside during strange events between Falangists and Carlists.

After further reconstructions, rehabilitations, and reforms, today the Basilica of Begoña stands splendidly and is one of the most cherished places by the people of Bizkaia. If you come to visit Bilbao, you can take a tour to see it.

How to get to the Basilica of Begoña

In a virtual tour of Bilbao , you can discover different routes and choose the one you want to take when traveling to Bizkaia.

• On foot from Plaza de Unamuno in the Casco Viejo of Bilbao, climbing up the historic Calzadas de Mallona.
• By metro, getting off at the Casco Viejo/Santutxu stop and taking the elevator.
• By urban bus, there are several options depending on where you’re starting from.

When to visit the Basilica of Begoña when traveling to Bilbao

Any day is a good day to visit the Basilica of Begoña. If you also want to attend the Catholic mass, there are several mass times daily. But there are two days each year that are especially important for this.

Each October 11, the day of the Virgin of Begoña, and August 15, during Aste Nagusia (the festival of Bilbao), which is the Virgin’s Day.

On August 15, tens of thousands of people (up to 150,000 some years) make a pilgrimage overnight from different parts of Bizkaia to the Basilica to honor the Virgin of Begoña.

The Basilica stays open all night with activities and mass during the early morning and throughout the day. Outside, there are stalls selling churros, buñuelos, and doughnuts, as well as dances and other festive events. The atmosphere is magnificent.

Enter the virtual tour of Bilbao, click and drag or tap and drag on the image below, navigate through the tour, and get more information through the icons that appear on it.