The walnut altarpieces
Five altarpieces carved by Juan Pascual de Mena, court sculptor of the period.
Zarateman — CC0 · Phyrexian — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Phyrexian — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Phyrexian — CC BY-SA 4.0
It stands at the edge of the old town facing the Arenal, with Plaza Nueva and the Arriaga theatre minutes away. Walking from here through the seven original streets to the Santiago cathedral and San Antón makes a full morning with no transport.
No. Hours follow the service schedule with a midday closure as is usual in Spain. Morning or late afternoon is safer, and check before going if your time is tight.
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A Baroque church at the northern entrance to Bilbao's old town, directly facing the Arenal park. It was designed by the Basque architect Ignacio Ibero and built between 1743 and 1756. What distinguishes it is the plan: the ground plan is octagonal rather than the usual cross, and the interior cupola reads from outside as an octagonal prism. That shape is unusual for churches of the period and makes the building legible from the street despite its plain facade. Inside are five altarpieces carved in dark walnut, the work of Juan Pascual de Mena, court sculptor of the day. The finest is the one in the high chapel, with the figure of Saint Nicholas in its central niche. The site has a longer story than the building. Bilbao's fishermen had raised a hermitage here in honour of Saint Nicholas, patron of seafarers. It grew with the population until it became a parish church, was destroyed by flooding in 1553, and the present building rose in its place.
Five altarpieces carved by Juan Pascual de Mena, court sculptor of the period.
The site began as a hermitage raised by Bilbao's fishermen to Saint Nicholas, patron of seafarers.
The earlier church was destroyed by flooding, and the present building rose about two centuries later.
Plaza San Nicolás, old town, facing the Arenal, Bilbao