Most of the processions that pass along the streets
of Bilbao during Easter start at the church of the Santos Juanes, situated in the old quarter
of Bilbao. This is the headquarters of the Brotherhood of the Santa Vera Cruz (Sacred Holy
Cross), one of the most famous processions in Bilbao, created in 1554 in memory of the great
flood that devastated Bilbao on September 14 1553.
In the processions you can see floats of inestimable historical importance, such as the
so-called Cristo de la Villa de Bilbao, a creation of the religious image maker Juan de Mesa,
in 1590.
Without doubt, the centre of attention during Easter week in Vizcaya is Balmaseda, some 40 km
from Bilbao, where it is interesting to witness the living Vía Crucis pageant, the most
important in Spain.
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