Attractions and Places To See around Gorliz - Top 20

Definitely a highlight, but unfortunately, the castle was covered in scaffolding when I visited. The castle dates back to the Middle Ages but was later almost completely rebuilt.

Built between the 15th and early 16th centuries, the Church of Santa Maria Magdalena is a simple Gothic hall church with a rectangular floor plan and three naves separated by columns, without a dome. The robust bell tower served as a watchtower over the estuary. This tower is the most striking element from the outside, especially due to the solid appearance of its prism-like spire. In front of it is a lovely square with two pleasant restaurants.

The Areeta-Las Arenas pier has had a variety of structures throughout its history. The first was built in 1880: it was perpendicular to the dock and was built of wood. The first news about the pier appeared in the local press on July 28, 1882, and related: "...An accident suffered by a blind man while descending its stairs, which caused a contusion to one eye, requiring him to be transferred to the Bilbao Civil Hospital..." Despite being made of wood, in October 1882, it was able to withstand the onslaught of a rough swell with a strong wind from outside the bar and a heavy sea from the northwest. That afternoon of October 9, “El Noticiero Bilbaíno” wrote about the violent storm surge: “...It was so powerful that the people of our marshes had never experienced anything like it, and it caused considerable damage. The square and the town of Las Arenas were flooded, and the tramway's livestock had to be removed from the stables. The tram, as is well known, has wooden piers or docks for passengers, both on the Portugalete and Las Arenas sides. Two of the piers were torn away, and another was damaged. The water also swept away the platform of the Las Arenas Spa and one of the police cabins, also causing damage to buildings near the sea. In the Arenal de Bilbao area, the tide reached five meters...”

HISTORY The Getxo Red Cross of the Sea is based in one of the municipality's most emblematic buildings: the Casa del Náufrago (Castle of the Shipwrecked). Located at the so-called Punta de Begoña, at the beginning of the Algorta counter-dock, next to the old port of Arriluze, the Casa del Náufrago (Castle of the Shipwrecked) was built in 1912 to house the Shipwrecked Rescue Society of the time. This completely independent altruistic group was made up of a few local fishermen and seamen who, despite their limited resources, came to the aid of sailors in the event of a disaster. They had a rescue boat, christened "Ama Begoñakoa," a lifeline, a bronze cannon, two line-throwing rifles, picks and shovels, and some precarious wicker helmets for protection... All of this was transported on a rudimentary wooden cart for easy transport. The reason for the existence of this salvage society is due to the high accident rate at the port of Bilbao throughout history. Royal Orders from the time of the Catholic Monarchs already mentioned that the coast claimed three or four shipwrecks a year along this stretch. But it was during the construction of the iron pier that engineer Evaristo de Churruca discovered the first remains that confirm the dark legend of the Bilbao Abra. During the dredging of the bar, several coins minted during the time of Emperor Hadrian were found. During the iron rush, British cartographers also warned their navigators of the deadly existence of the northwest bar at the entrance to Bilbao: a strip of sand between the Las Arenas mojijonera and Santurtzi that, until the construction of the iron pier, claimed thousands of lives. The shallow draft of this stretch of water, which at low tide barely reached a meter deep, tore open the frames of ships, leaving them at the mercy of the waves and sinking irretrievably. In fact, the freighters that arrived in Bilbao to load ore had flat hulls, without keels, to avoid running aground. Occasionally, the channel was completely blocked, and the German maritime authorities and pilots opened another access route via El Salto beach to Santurtzi, although this alternative posed the risk of running aground on the cliff. The Casa del Náufrago also had space to house shipwreck victims, but over time, the area designated for these

Start of the 100% pedestrian section of the path (shared with cyclists). The path runs to Sopela, Barinatxe beach (La Salvaje).

Cool castle, graceful as it stands there. By the way, a really beautiful hiking area.

Built between the 15th and early 16th centuries, the church of Santa Maria Magdalena is an austere Gothic hall church, with a rectangular floor plan and 3 nondomed naves separates by pillars. The robust bell tower was a watchtower over the river estuary. This tower is the element that stands out the most on the exterior, especially for the solid appearance of its tower, prism-like tower. Particularly noteworthy is the coffered timber ceiling, designed by Severino de Achucarro in 1887 and executed by local contractor Martín González de Durana. Several religiaus sculptures, such as the Recumbent Christ, the Penitent Mary Magdalene and St. Peter, remain of its earlier décor. The shell-shaped baptism font of uncertain provenance and the model boat hanging from the coffered ceiling are also of note. This is a typical offering in coastal towns that was made to seek protection. Inside the church, one of the most interesting features is the set of five alabaster panels making up the Polyptych of the Passion, dated between 1440 and 1480.

This medieval castle is one of the most beautiful in Biscay. It is located in a beautiful setting, on a hill and on top of some rocks, and is surrounded by a century-old forest.