Iglesia del Sagrado Corazon (Church of the Sacred Heart), Bilbao

The Church of the Sacred Heart was conceived in the late 19th century as part of the Jesuits’ new Residence of Saint Ignatius, responding to a broader Jesuit revival in the city tied to the establishment of the University of Deusto. Designed by architect José María de Basterra, the church was consecrated on September 8, 1890, the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.

What immediately catches the eye is the church’s neo-Gothic façade, featuring a harmonious mix of reddish brick and stone, complete with a luminous rose window. Inside, visitors are greeted by a richly decorated interior-polychrome walls, warm tones, and Byzantine-inspired vaulting-that give the space an almost exotic atmosphere.

The church also offers a portal into the Jesuits’ historical presence in Bilbao. From their early operations in the city during the 16th century to their reestablishment in the late 1800s culminating in this remarkable church, the Society of Jesus has left an enduring imprint on Bilbao’s urban and cultural identity.