Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis (Church of Saint Francisco de Asis), Bilbao

The Church of Saint Francisco de Asís, commonly referred to as La Quinta Parroquia, meaning The Fifth Parish-a name that signifies its role as the fifth parish founded in the city-adds to the urban landscape with its twin spires, impressive rose window, and a sandstone façade quarried from Mount Oitz.

Construction began on June 30, 1890, under the guidance of Bilbao‑born architect Luis de Landecho y Urriés, whose vision drew upon medieval Gothic cathedrals. He designed the church using local Oitz sandstone, an effort that earned him the Gold Medal at the Madrid Fine Arts Exhibition the same year. Although the main structure was completed in 1896, it wasn't officially consecrated until November 9, 1902. The twin towers were added in 1906, followed by the addition of the rose window in 1909, executed by architect Manuel María Smith. The building was honored with the designation Cultural Asset – Monument of the Basque Country in 2000.

The church features three longitudinal naves, with soaring vaults that highlight the traditional Gothic influence. Its structural elements-quadrangular pillars with Corinthian columns and richly detailed vaulting-suggest a medieval past but with modern craftsmanship. Marble from Ereño town adorns the bases of the pillars. Colorful stained-glass windows from Munich flood the nave with vivid imagery of saints, theological scenes, and the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, enhancing the reflective atmosphere.

Art enthusiasts will find much to admire in the church’s religious sculptures, especially the realistic suspended crucifix above the main altar, accompanied by statues of Saint Francis and the Virgin Mary created by Mariano Bellver. Nearby, the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament features a neo-Gothic altarpiece, while more contemporary works-like Jesus the Captive and Redeemed, sculpted by Federico Coullaut‑Valera in 1947-illustrate the continuing evolution of sacred art in Bilbao.