The Mallona stairs
The hundreds of steps of the historic ascent.
Zarateman — CC0 · Wilfredor — CC0 · Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Begoña is Bilbao's "Amatxu" — her grandmother, in the people's affection: the sixteenth-century basilica above the old town holds all Bizkaia's patroness, "our mother of Begoña", to whom sailors and returning emigrants climb before their own homes, and Athletic supporters in their colours before finals — the city's faith and identity in one shrine. The climb is half the rite: from the old town's Unamuno square up the famous hundreds of the Mallona stairs (or the easy Casco Viejo lift) — arriving at a rooftop balcony. Stern Basque Gothic under a later Baroque tower, a gilt-altared interior around the small dark Lady — Sunday morning the city's living mass. A visit of identity more than art: half an hour that explains spiritual Bilbao.
The hundreds of steps of the historic ascent.
The dark Lady in her golden shrine.
Birgonia Auzoa 43, 48006 Bilbao
Plaza Miguel de UnamunoA square in the old town named after the philosopher and writer Miguel de Unamun8 minutes walk4.3
Church of San Nicolás de BariA Baroque church at the northern entrance to Bilbao's old town, directly facing 9 minutes walk4.4
Santiago CathedralSantiago Cathedral is the heart of the Seven Streets — first Bilbao: fourteenth-10 minutes walk4.4
Church of San AntónA church on the bank of the Nervión at the edge of the old town, and among the o11 minutes walk4.5
Museum of Reproductions, BilbaoA museum of plaster casts of famous classical sculpture, in a former church in B15 minutes walk4.3The most identity-fierce Basque club holds her its unofficial patroness: team and crowds climbing before finals is a century's custom — victories returning in thanks. Football here extends identity rather than entertains it.