San Juan de Gaztelugatxe by txatxy

Between Bakio and Bermeo, on the coast of Bizkaia, is the hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

Tradition says that once you get up you have to touch the bell three times in the hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe to fulfill a wish or to drive away the evil spirits.

Hermitage

Curiosities:

- At the top of the rock where the hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is located, it is accessed after climbing 241 steps, but to access the base of the stairs you have to go down the cliff, about 15 minutes on foot, The place we left the car or BUS, we have to rely on about 1 hour 15 minutes to do the entire round trip.

- In 1963 was placed in the bottom of the sea an image of the Virgin of Begoña.

Gaztelugatxe is an islet of the Biscayan locality of Bermeo, País Vasco. It is connected to the mainland by a bridge of two arches. On the island there is a hermitage dedicated to San Juan that dates from century X, although some discoveries date from century IX.

It is a dominant rock that simulates a castle in the sea. In its name can be given two meanings: Gaztelu-aitz (castle rock) and Gaztelu-gache (castle rough or difficult).

There are many traditions and beliefs that unite with St. John of Gaztelugatxe, such as to ring the bell three times to ask for a wish or to drive away evil spirits. Bermeo fishing boats when they go to work in the long campaigns of bonito often make several turns to port and starboard so that the saint lucky, and the same when a boat is inaugurated.

At the top of the rock where the hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is, you can access it after climbing 241 steps, but to access the base of the stairs you have to go down the cliff, about 15 minutes on foot, Place we left the car or BUS, we have to rely on about 1 hour 15 minutes to do the entire round trip.