From beliefs to science, a journey through traditions, customs and technology on the coast of Bizkaia

A highly detailed, structurally elaborate, artillery-armed merchant frigate ex-voto dated between 1875 and 1899 and from the Church of San Nikolas and Santa Ana in Olabeaga.

Rescue at sea: between miracle and technique, is a permanent exhibition area dedicated to fear, superstitions and the different maritime rescue devices created to deal with the dangers associated with the sea.

Historically, the sea has been presented as an unfathomable abyss for human beings, an immense place with countless risks and dangers beyond our reach. It is precisely this uncertainty that has generated countless superstitions, traditions, rituals, and ceremonies invoking the protection of gods, virgins and saints.

The journey begins by analysing the world of miracles, popular beliefs and superstitions or religiosity, all of them irrational or spiritual responses to situations of terror or uncertainty and continues with the solutions that advances in technology and knowledge have been offering to confront the dangers that the sea entails. All of this through a highly representative selection of pieces, objects and works of art by the marine historian and specialist in the subject, Xabier Armendariz.

The shipwreck of the Bolivar, which occurred in 1887 at the Portugalete bar while the tug Volador was taking her into port.

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Painting by Charles Gregory, a unique votive painting by the famous English marine painter, painted in 1853, which was in the Basilica of Begoña.

Andarivel, one of the first pieces of equipment of the Arriluze Rescue Station, which was used to rescue people from ships that suffered an accident near the mainland.

Votive photograph.
One of the shells that the steamer Azkorri Mendi received when it was attacked by a German submarine in the English Channel on the night of 22 July 1917. It is accompanied by a votive photograph of the ship

Tridacna gigas, a large exotic mollusc used to hold holy water, or sometimes as a baptismal font.

Ex-voto Bricbarca 21 July, believed to have been launched on 21 July 1876 in Bilbao, of great technical quality and detail, and featuring two female portraits, which is unusual for this type of object.