{"id":6469,"date":"2022-04-13T07:38:41","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T05:38:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/what-to-see\/iglesia-gotica-de-santa-maria\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T16:56:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T14:56:21","slug":"the-gothic-church-of-santa-maria","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/what-to-see\/the-gothic-church-of-santa-maria\/","title":{"rendered":"The Gothic Church of Santa Maria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"495\" src=\"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-1024x495.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-1024x495.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-300x145.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-768x371.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:45px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Visit the C<strong>hurch of Santa Maria<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"block-cuadro-info\">\n\t<div class=\"info-circle\">\n\t\t<i class=\"fa-solid fa-circle-info\"><\/i>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"control-box\">\n\t\t<p class=\"title\">Table of contents<\/p>\n\t\t<div class=\"box\">\n\t\t\t<ul>\n<li data-section-id=\"hmm6tm\" data-start=\"18\" data-end=\"31\"><a href=\"#historia\">History<\/a><\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"2h0xp9\" data-start=\"32\" data-end=\"50\"><a href=\"#arquitectura\">Architecture<\/a><\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"b4klqi\" data-start=\"51\" data-end=\"64\"><a href=\"#bombardeo\">Bombing<\/a><\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"wu63ok\" data-start=\"65\" data-end=\"82\"><a href=\"#audios\">Audio Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"q0uyzt\" data-start=\"83\" data-end=\"129\"><a href=\"#visitas\"><strong data-start=\"85\" data-end=\"129\">Visit Santa Mar&iacute;a Church (July &amp; August)<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:44px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>The oldest building in Gernika and one of the most important historic monuments in Biscay, bearing witness to more than five centuries of history.<\/strong><\/strong> If you visit Gernika during July and August, you can explore its interior free of charge thanks to the opening service provided by the Tourist Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first reference to the elizate or parish of Lumo dates back in time to the 11th century. In actual fact, it refers to three temples:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>San Pedro de Luno<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The church of Our Lady of Antigua, today the Assembly House, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Another church, not the old one, which we believe refers to the Church of Santa Mar\u00eda.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Hence, we can affirm that there was a temple in the upper part of Gernika in the 11th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The church of Santa Maria de Gernika is strategically located in a prime setting at the top of the town, <strong>surrounded by the Assembly House and the Euskal Herria Museum<\/strong> (the Montefuerte Palace).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Built in <strong>Gothic style<\/strong>, the temple began to rise in the <strong>15th century<\/strong> but due to its long and eventful history, it has ended up with a variety of styles that can be appreciated both inside and outside the church.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"historia\"><strong>Orig<\/strong>ins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Just a few metres away from the<strong> Gernika Assembly House<\/strong>, on a steep slope that once marked the boundary between the urban area of the Chartered Town and the jurisdiction of the elizate or parish of Lumo, stands the Church of Santa Mar\u00eda. Work began on the temple in the mid-15th century, following the prevailing <strong>Gothic <\/strong>model, but a century later the \u201cHallenkirche\u201d or Hall Church system was adopted. Its blend of styles (Gothic on the fa\u00e7ade, Renaissance in the interior) is one of the church\u2019s most characteristic features.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Work on the church continued for another century: it was finally completed around 1660. The choir, respectfully executed in the Renaissance style, dates from this date, as do the contours of the last vaults to be added, the work of stonemason <strong>Antonio Ortiz de la Colina<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-2-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-2-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-2-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-2.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"arquitectura\"><strong>Architecture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>From the outside, Santa Mar\u00eda de Gernika looms as an enormous and inscrutable compact volume, an immense mass of carved stone and masonry. Its great roof encloses an ample space arranged in three naves divided into five sections, ending in polygonal apses. Apses and naves soar to the heights and are adorned by ribbed vaults in the Gothic style - stellated in the first section and simple in the rest - supported by the walls and by eight imposing classical columns of the Ionic order, quite possibly the most beautiful to be found anywhere in Vizcaya.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>noble<\/strong>, north-facing <strong>fa\u00e7ade<\/strong> is modulated by magnificent arches that connect the buttresses on that side. Gazing upwards, the axis is dominated by a large three-eyed <strong>Baroque bell gable<\/strong> which dates back to 1775, whilst at floor level, we behold the portal with its <strong>two pointed entrance arches<\/strong> separated by a mullion. All this is inscribed in a classic structure of jambs and splayed archivolts, enriched with carved images of saints. Although the tympanum may appear to be empty, it does in fact contain a text that is relevant to the biography of the building:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMyll et cccc et IXL a\u00f1os Sanch \/ o de enparan\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to this inscription, the master builder in <strong>1449<\/strong> was <strong>Sancho<\/strong> <strong>de Emparan<\/strong>. Inside the temple, the covered hall and columns, the choir at one end that spans the three naves, and the hallway recessed into the walls of the three chambers of the chancel inspire a sense of grandeur.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-3-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-754\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iglesia-santa-maria-3.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Furniture<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The church does not currently contain furniture of any note. It does however house several Rococo images recovered from one of its former altarpieces and, in the first chapel, there is an unembellished Baroque altarpiece, an interesting work by <strong>Juan de Azc\u00fanaga<\/strong>, a master from Forua.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to see inside the Church of Santa Mar\u00eda in Gernika: audios and curiosities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Church of Santa Mar\u00eda in Gernika preserves several elements inside that help visitors better understand the history of the temple and the town. Through these two audios, you can discover two highlights of the visit: the tomb of the \u00c1lbiz family and the heads of the Virgins located beneath the choir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"audios\">The tomb of the \u00c1lbiz family<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The tomb of the \u00c1lbiz family is one of the most distinctive historical elements inside the Church of Santa Mar\u00eda. This audio explains its origin, its meaning and the connection of this family with the local history of Gernika.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:4px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/eng-sepulcro-albiz-iglesia-santa-maria-gernika-1.mp3\">LISTEN TO THE AUDIO<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Virgins beneath the choir<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Beneath the choir, two heads of Virgins with a very special story are preserved: a replica of the Virgin of Nagasaki and the original head of the Virgin from the altarpiece destroyed during the bombing of Gernika. This audio offers a closer look at their symbolic value and their connection with the town\u2019s historical memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/eng-virgenes-bajocoro-iglesia-santa-maria-gernika-2.mp3\">LISTEN TO THE AUDIO<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bombardeo\"><strong><strong>The church of Santa Maria and the bombardment<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the church of Santa Mar\u00eda <strong>was not destroyed during the bombing of Gernika <\/strong>in April 1937, one of its chapels was however severely damaged and the sacristy burned down, resulting in the loss of numerous historically important documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"google-map-icon\"><strong>Address:<\/strong>  <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/ECWu9KDhC9gSxss26\" target=\"_blank\">Goienkale, 1<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is located in the vicinity of the Assembly House, within the urban area of Gernika.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:74px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" id=\"visitas\"><div class=\"block-cuadro-info\">\n\t<div class=\"info-circle\">\n\t\t<i class=\"fa-solid fa-circle-info\"><\/i>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"control-box\">\n\t\t<p class=\"title\">Visit the inside of the church<\/p>\n\t\t<div class=\"box\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Opening hours:<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"18edzbf\" data-start=\"36\" data-end=\"57\"><span role=\"text\"><strong data-start=\"40\" data-end=\"57\">JULY &amp; AUGUST<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"59\" data-end=\"97\">Monday to Friday<br data-start=\"79\" data-end=\"82\" \/>11:00&ndash;13:30<\/p>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"aisnah\" data-start=\"99\" data-end=\"123\"><span role=\"text\"><strong data-start=\"103\" data-end=\"123\">REST OF THE YEAR<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"125\" data-end=\"147\">Monday to Saturday<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"149\" data-end=\"184\"><strong data-start=\"149\" data-end=\"172\">Visits before Mass:<\/strong> 18:15&ndash;19:00<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"186\" data-end=\"235\"><strong data-start=\"186\" data-end=\"235\">Tourist visits are not permitted during Mass.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"237\" data-end=\"251\"><strong data-start=\"237\" data-end=\"251\">FREE ENTRY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"237\" data-end=\"251\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Mass hours: <\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Monday to Saturday at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Sundays: 12:30 p.m.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"block-cuadro-info\">\n\t<div class=\"info-circle\">\n\t\t<i class=\"fa-solid fa-circle-info\"><\/i>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"control-box\">\n\t\t<p class=\"title\">Visit the interior of the Church of Santa Mar\u00eda<\/p>\n\t\t<div class=\"box\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t        <a class=\"button\"  href=\"https:\/\/3d.raumgang.de\/en\/tour\/92jhmfpkrp\">Virtual tour<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t    \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You may also be interested in...<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"block-listado-cuadros\">\n\n\n                \n        <div class=\"row\">\n                    <div class=\"col-12 col-sm-6\">\n                        <div class=\"single-cuadros\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/what-to-see\/top-10-gernika\/\">\n                                <div class=\"image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/arbol-gernika-dia-santa-clara.jpg)\">\n                                    <div class=\"hover-bg\">\n                                        <span>More information<\/span>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/a>\n                            <div class=\"texto\">\n                                <p class=\"title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/what-to-see\/top-10-gernika\/\">The Gernika Top 10<\/a><\/p>\n                                <div class=\"resumen\">\n                                    <p class=\"p1\">Different places in Gernika that you just have to see.<\/p>                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                    \n                    <div class=\"col-12 col-sm-6\">\n                        <div class=\"single-cuadros\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/what-to-see-in-gernika-in-a-day\/\">\n                                <div class=\"image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/museo-paz-gernika-bomba-rompedora.jpg)\">\n                                    <div class=\"hover-bg\">\n                                        <span>More information<\/span>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/a>\n                            <div class=\"texto\">\n                                <p class=\"title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/what-to-see-in-gernika-in-a-day\/\">What to see in Gernika in a day<\/a><\/p>\n                                <div class=\"resumen\">\n                                    <p class=\"p1\">Different suggestions for things to see in Gernika in one day<\/p>                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                    <\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Visit the Church of Santa Maria The oldest building in Gernika and one of the most important historic monuments in Biscay, bearing witness to more than five centuries of history. If you visit Gernika during July and August, you can explore its interior free of charge thanks to the opening service provided by the Tourist [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":6321,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/page-que-ver.php","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-6469","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6469"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6469\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17328,"href":"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6469\/revisions\/17328"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gernikainfo.eus\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}