Basílica Santa María de Portugalete

This Basilica is located in Portugalete, a coastal town, fifteen minutes from Bilbao, where you can go to see El Puente Colgante, a suspension bridge, as well as this work of art, the Basilica, which has been declared a national Basque monument. It was erected in the 15th century by Doña María López de Haro and took almost 100 years to build. It is in Gothic style, which can be fully appreciated from the outside, as you can see the big high windows with pointed arches, the buttresses, and the flying buttresses. Inside it has strong columns with ribs leaning against the vaults, and a little triforium of arches which are reminiscent of the old pilgrims' churches. From the Basilica of Santa María, there is a fantastic bird's-eye view of Portugalete. Mass times: 7pm Mon-Fri; 12pm, 1pm, and 6.30pm Sat, Sun and holidays.