Bilbao Cathedral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bilbao Cathedral
Cathedral Basilica of Saint James
Basílica Catedral de Santiago Done Jakue Basilika-Katedrala
West portico.
43°15′25″N 2°55′26″W / 43.25694°N 2.92389°W / 43.25694; -2.92389
Location	Bilbao
Country	Spain
Denomination	Catholic
History
Status	Cathedral
Dedication	James the Great
Dedicated	30 December 1955
Architecture
Style	Gothic, Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	14th Century
Completed	15th Century
Specifications
Nave height	22.5 m (74 ft)
Tower height	64 m (210 ft)
Bells	11
Administration
Metropolis	Burgos
Diocese	Bilbao

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint James (Spanish: Basílica Catedral de Santiago; Basque: Done Jakue Basilika-Katedrala) is a Catholic cathedral in Bilbao, Spain. It is dedicated to the apostle James the Great, by virtue of being a point of transit for the pilgrims that followed the Northern Way of the Camino de Santiago. In 2015, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site together several other buildings along the route.

The temple was originally built between the 14th and 15th centuries as the city's main parish church, and as such, it is one the oldest extant buildings in Bilbao. It was built on the site of a previous temple with its origins probably date to well before the foundation of the city in 1300, when Bilbao was little more than a small enclave of fishermen. In 1819, it was declared a minor basilica. The tower with spire and west portico, designed by local architect Severino de Achúcarro, were concluded in 1887. It was elevated to cathedral status on 30 December 1955, after the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bilbao was officially created.

Architecturally, the present building is a mixture of styles: from the 15th century Gothic of the cloister and the main vault, where of special interest are the cloister and the beautiful portal that gives access Correo street (Puerta del Angel), to the ostentatious Gothic Revival façade and bell tower. A curious custom is the addition of stone carvings of local merchants along the buttresses of the main vault.

Gallery

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  Bell tower.

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  Porch and south portico, by Jenaro Pérez Villaamil (1850).

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  Portico of the Angel.

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  Central nave.

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  Vaults.

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  Cloister.