The Calzada de Mallona - Disfruta Bizkaia

There are spots in Bilbao that have been part of the city for centuries and, nevertheless, still have something special. The Calzada de Mallona is one of them. It joins the old city with the Begoña basilica and it’s considered to be one of the oldest and most unique thoroughfares in Bilbao, in addition to being one of those streets that lets you discover the city from a different perspective.

Part of its charm come precisely from the combination of history and urban route. The Calzadas de Mallona were built in 1745 to make it easier to reach Begoña, which is place with enormous symbolic and religious significance in the history of Bilbao. Since then, this itinerary has been associated with the most recognisable imagery of the city, as the traditional route between the heart of the old and one of it major heritage sites.

The walk starts around Unamuno plaza, one of the most emblematic parts of the old city, and from there it ascends up a long series of steps and stone-paved sections all the way to the basilica.

One of the elements that makes this spot most special is that it’s not just a stairway. The Calzada de Mallona has its own atmosphere, with walls, slopes and steps that take you back to a bygone Bilbao before the grand avenues and contemporary buildings. Also along the way, you can find the entrance to the old cemetery of Mallona, which was the first cemetery in the city after burials in churches were prohibited in the early 19th century. That detail adds even more historical depth to the walk.

It’s also a place closely bound to the visual identity of the city. The climb to Begoña, with the basilica at the end of the line, has something of a picture postcard of Bilbao. It’s not by chance that it’s still one of those spots a lot of visitors discover almost by surprise, and that a lot of local people keep identifying as one of the most special routes in the city.

In addition, the visit works very well as a short activity. You can do it on a simple walk from the old city, segue into a visit to the basilica of Begoña and finish the route up afterwards to nearby places like the Etxebarria park, or you can go back down to the Seven Streets.

The Calzada de Mallona is, certainly, one of those short routes that summarises part of the soul of Bilbao very well; history, tradition, ascent, stone and a direct connection between the old city and Begoña that still has the same magnetism as always.

What makes the Calzada de Mallona special

It joins the old city with the basilica of Begoña
It was built in 1745.
It’s one of the oldest and most emblematic streets in Bilbao.
The old cemetery of Mallona, closely tied to the city’s history, is along the way.