SANTIAGO CATHEDRAL
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Cathedral classified as Historical and Artistic Heritage of Spain, and one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic in the Basque Country
Dedicated to Santiago de Compostela, Bilbao's patron saint, the cathedral is an important stopover on the Camino del Norte for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Listed as a "Spanish Historical and Artistic Heritage Site" since 1931, it is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the Basque Country. It forms a Latin cross divided into three naves, topped by ribbed vaults. Santiago Cathedral dates back to before the birth of the city in 1300. It was then a small church, destroyed by fire in 1374. Thanks to the intervention of Pope Gregory XI, work on a new temple began shortly afterwards, towards the end of the 14th century, with the construction of a Gothic-style building in keeping with the taste of the time. They continued for over a century, first with the construction of the ambulatory and chapels in the 15th century, then with the addition of the cloister and the beautiful portico of the Puerta del Ángel (also known as the "Pilgrims' Gate") in the 16th century. The entire facade and tower overlooking the Plazuela de Santiago were built later in the neo-Gothic style.
Particularly noteworthy is the originality of the ambulatory, divided into rectangular and triangular spaces, and the triforium (a passageway built into the aisles of the nave), which establishes a kinship with other churches in the Basque Country: Gernika, Lekeitio, Portugalete, San Antón de Bilbao, and others.
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