Centro de Interpretación de la Pasión Viviente
Permanent exhibition on the Balmaseda Living Via Crucis in the church of the former convent of Santa Clara, with costumes, tableaux, objects and images.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The centre is housed in the church of the former convent of Santa Clara, on the edge of town along the road to Burgos. The church was built thanks to a generous legacy from the Indies (indiano): Juan de la Piedra Verástegui, a native of Balmaseda, died in Panama in 1643 and left three thousand ducats, the income from which was to found and maintain a convent of enclosed Poor Clares. The first abbess, María Jacinta de la Puente, arrived at the new convent on 31 October 1666.
The church has a single nave, with a shallow transept and a choir and communion rail at the west end. It preserves Baroque retables of great quality from the 17th and 18th centuries and, in the choir, an organ dating from 1777, one of the oldest in Bizkaia.
Today it houses the Centro de Interpretación de la Pasión Viviente, which allows visitors to learn about the different aspects of the Balmaseda Living Via Crucis throughout the year. The permanent exhibition brings together costumes, tableaux, objects, images and sounds from the performance. The building also has a space for workshops and is the seat of the Asociación Vía Crucis Viviente de Balmaseda.
Highlights
- Costumes, tableaux, objects, images and sounds of the Balmaseda Living Passion
- Baroque church of the convent of Santa Clara, founded in 1666
- Organ of 1777, one of the oldest in Bizkaia
- Seat of the association that organises the Living Via Crucis
Permanent exhibition
- Exposición permanente de la Pasión Viviente – Brings together costumes, tableaux, objects, images and sounds from the Balmaseda Living Via Crucis performance.
- Operated by
- Asociación Vía Crucis Viviente de Balmaseda
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Renfe: Balmaseda–Bilbao line; Bizkaibus to Bilbao, Zalla, Lanestosa, Cruces and Santurtzi; Alsa to Burgos and Guardo.
Balmaseda is about 30 km from Bilbao via the BI-636 (Cadagua corridor), roughly 20 minutes by car. The centre is on the road out of town towards Burgos.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The building has a space for workshops.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Includes the “museo sede” (headquarters museum) of the Asociación Vía Crucis Viviente; the holdings are removed from the exhibition in the days before Holy Week for the performances. |
|---|
