Tourism

On September 15, 1963 boss of Biscay carried out the submarine enthronement of the image of the Virgin of Begoña, in waters of the Cantabrico. This initiative there was realized by the Center Excursionist of Subaquatic Activities (CEVAS). The act constituted an excellent event, not only religious, but also popular.

For its characteristics, the image is considered, together with that of Christ of the Abysses, immersed in waters of San Fructuoso (Genoa), like one of the biggest of the world. 

The reproduction of the image of the Virgin is a work of sculptor Joaquin Lucarini, author of the sculpture that crowns the building “The Tiger” in Deusto, one of the constructions most representative of Bilbao. 

The size of Amatxu de Begoña measures 1,20m. Of height and its base cm is of 47x30 a cm placed on a platform of 55x46. It weighs 198 kg. And it is stuffed of lead, reaching 850 kg. The figure was enthroned to 10 meters deep to be able to be observed by the scuba divers, and for it with low tide they can see it without big effort.

After there were fulfilled 6 years of the enthronement (1969), he installed to himself a monolith that remembers it in the highway Bermeo-Bakio and likewise to 143 arrantzales (116 bermeanos) that lost the life in the strong northwest wind of 1912 that flogged this coast of the Basque Coast. Also on having thought that it would be complicated for many people to come up to the submerged Virgin and, to go to dive to see it, at the age of 25, carved a reply of the image and settled in the parish of the Franciscan Parents in Bermeo, where now we can see it. 

They go to fulfill 50 years since there became true the illusion of a group of persons, led by the club CEVAS, of enthroning an image of the Virgin that it was protecting from its submarine throne, of Saint John of Gaztelugatxe, to which they realize submarine activities and to all the fishermen.

On June 12 CEVAS has signposted the situation of the Virgin of Begoña at the bottom of the sea in Saint John of Gaztelugatxe placing a buoy 

In September 50 are celebrated anniversary OF THE ENTHRONEMENT OF THE IMAGE 

As soon as the program is we will publish it, but like advance: 

ON SATURDAY, THE 14TH OF SEPTEMBER: at 20:30 mass in the chapel of Saint John of Gaztelugatxe. 

ON SUNDAY, THE 15TH OF SEPTEMBER: to reserve the whole morning for the virgin from 10:00 that we stay in the church of the Franciscan parents of bermeo. 

For more information: www.cevaseuskadi.com