The church of the Convent of Santa Clara in Balmaseda, strategically located on the road leading out of the city to Burgos, was built with a magnificent bequest from the Indies, sent from Panama by Juan de la Piedra Verástegui, a native of Balmaseda, who died in Panama City in 1643. In his will, he left a legacy of three thousand ducats, the income from which was to be used to found and maintain a cloistered convent of Poor Clare nuns. On October 31, 1666, the first abbess, María Jacinta de la Puente, arrived at the new convent.
The church is a single-nave structure with a slightly pronounced transept and the choir and communion rail at the west end. The façade is simple, with the main entrance under a semicircular arch. Above it is a niche containing an image of Saint Clare, flanked by a coat of arms. Inside, it houses magnificent Baroque altarpieces, with works from the 17th and 18th centuries, of excellent design, execution, and imagery. The choir contains an organ from 1777, one of the oldest in Bizkaia.
It currently houses the Balmaseda Living Passion Interpretation Center, a venue that allows visitors to learn about the different aspects of the Living Stations of the Cross year-round. The Museum Headquarters features a permanent exhibition that includes costumes, floats, objects, images, and sounds related to the performance. It also has a workshop space and is the headquarters of the Balmaseda Living Stations of the Cross Association.
The Interpretation Center’s opening hours are:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday to Sunday and Public Holidays: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
- Additionally, on Friday afternoons during the summer: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
The Museum will be closed in the days leading up to Holy Week, as its collection is used in the various performances.
Telephone: +34 946 801 438
