On the site of this church, in Calle San Vicente, stood a little 16th hermitage, which was neglected for nearly two centuries. The church there now is Basque Gothic in design with very austere proportions at odds with Renaissance tendencies. The main altar is Neoclassical and the side altars are 20th century, the work of Ricardo Bastida.
The Catedral de Santiago was constructed in the 16th Century, but the exact date is uncertain. What is known is that at that time it could be seen from any street in the city, with the cloister on the west and the porch on the north west. Times change, however, and it is now somewhat hidden behind new buildings. It could be considered the foundation stone on which Bilbao was built, as the seven streets of the old city converged at the Gothic-style Cathedral, which dates back to the time of St. James, before the city was built. The Cathedral is located in the Plaza de Santiago, which shares its name.
This church is located in the Plaza de los Santos Juanes, and is one of the monuments within Bilbao's coat of arms. It has its origins in a religious act which took place on 5th August 1433 in the Temple of San Antonio Abad, patron saint of farmers. It is a Castilian Gothic style monument with a porch containing Renaissance features and a Baroque bell tower.
Basilica of Begoña dominates the city from its hilltop location. It dates from the 16th Century and its most outstanding feature is the Renaissance-style main entrance. The main altar is an important example of the transition between the Romanesque and Gothic styles of architecture. The Basilica attracts tourists, agnostics and believers alike. No tourist visits are allowed during mass.