Trip to Balmaseda with our international students

Today, 13th of July, we’re going to search for adventures to a small city located 30 kilometers from Bilbao. Balmaseda was founded in 1199 as a first city of Vizcaya. In the city we can find a river called Cadagua which crosses it and reminds us about the historical importance of the city. Thanks to the river it was an important point which connected Castilla with the sea.

Speaking of the most dominant places of the town, this will be, without any doubt, the Old Bridge. Balmaseda is a historical place, there are many museums for the people who want to explore more of the history and also some relaxing zones to disconnect during your day off.

One of the most remarkable places in Balmaseda is the Museum of Boinas (Basque berets) of La Encartada which is located in an old factory of boinas and now is part of industrial heritage. This museum isn't the only one in this small town - there is also a Museum of history located in the interior of the San Juan Bautista church. Continuing with churches, there is another one which our students can visit – the parish Church of San Severino. Balmaseda also has its own mosque or at least that's how people call the town hall – mosque of Vizcaya. This may be because of its numerous pillars that make it look like a typical Muslim building.

If you want to experience the authentic atmosphere of Balmaseda, we suggest coming during Easter. This is the time when the real "fiesta" comes to life and the city shows his best festive face. Many typical performances are exposed in the streets of La Pasión Viviente (Living Passion) and the Medieval Market helps, too. This place shows people some folk customs and typical professions from the city.

It's obvious we cannot skip gastronomy. If you go to Balmaseda then puchera made of green beans is a must-taste for you. Puchera is a traditional meal made of green beans, chorizo, morcilla, etc. And it was invented by a men who worked at railway. The cooking takes quite a long time, but the result is so worth it!

If you want to experience with us similar trips and have good memories for the rest of your life you can do it by signing up for one of our Spanish courses. Every day we organize trips similar to this one to Balmaseda so that our student could not just learn the language but also explore Spanish culture once they have the oportunity.

If case you have questions or troubles finding the right course for you, don't hesitate to contact us at info@institutohemingway.com.

See you soon!