Church of San Nicolás, Bilbao, Baroque church in Casco Viejo, Bilbao, Spain

The Church of San Nicolás is a baroque church inaugurated in 1756, designed by the Azpeitia-born architect Ignacio Ibero. Its Greek-cross plan is set within a square, with the corner spaces occupied by chapels and the sacristy, and the crossing covered by a dome that appears as an octagonal prism outside, partly hidden by the bell gable in the middle of the main facade. The facade consists of the main entrance and two towers attached to either side; the 1891 portal has a bronze tympanum by Josep Llimona beneath a triangular pediment decorated with the city's coat of arms and two supporting lions.

A hermitage founded in 1490 for the fishermen's district outside the town walls was ruined by floods and demolished. The present church was built from 1756 to the design of the Azpeitia architect Ignacio Ibero. It was closed during the Peninsular War, struck by lightning in 1816 and used as a military store during the Carlist Wars, leaving it without worship in 1808-1814, 1835-1841 and 1873-1879.

The dedication to Saint Nicholas of Bari comes from the fishermen's district that stood outside the medieval town, which the earlier hermitage served. The main chapel and four exedras hold Baroque-Rococo altarpieces commissioned in 1754 by the Bilbao regiment from court sculptor Juan Pascual de Mena, with 17 figures polychromed by José López Perella.

The church is located at Plaza de San Nicolas in Casco Viejo and is easily accessible on foot from the city center. Nearby you will find restaurants, shops, and the Euskal Museoa Basque Museum, making it simple to combine a visit with other activities.

The main chapel and four exedras hold Baroque-Rococo altarpieces commissioned in 1754 by Bilbao's regiment from court sculptor Juan Pascual de Mena, who moved to the town for the work; José López Perella polychromed the 17 figures. The walnut stalls and pulpits are by Juan de Aguirre and Juan de Iturburu. The altarpieces were restored between 2007 and 2011 with funding from the Diputación Foral de Vizcaya.