Santiago Cathedral

A trip to Bilbao would not be complete without a visit to Santiago Cathedral.

Originally declared a cathedral in 1950, the imposing gothic masterpiece is situated in the centre of the popular Old Town.

Parts of the building date back to the 1300s, and renovation and restoration work has taken place over recent times to maintain some of the more impressive structures.

Although without its original furniture, the inside of the cathedral is still a sight to behold. The neoclassical alter is particularly impressive, as is the collection of statutes.

The most intriguing part of the cathedral is the temple built in honour of Saint James the Great - known as Santiago in Spanish.

The temple is part of the Unesco protected Route of Santiago de Compostela, a pilgrimage taken by Christians to the legendary burial place of Saint James in Galicia.

Other highlights of a trip across the channel to Bilbao include the impressive Guggenheim Museum and the Fine Arts Museum which showcases the works of El Greco, Goya and Francis Bacon.