This route begins in Bakio, with the visit to the
small Church of San Pelayo, built during the Early Middle Ages (12th century). The Church of San Pelayo is located on a coastal mountainside. Its value lies in it being one of the few Romanesque churches in Bizkaia, and it is typical in terms of the inner layout. It also has the only remaining bell-tower from the Romanesque period in Bizkaia. The church itself, excepting some later additions, is Romanesque, with a single nave and a rectangular apse with a cornet-shaped window. The apse has a pointed vault ceiling. The centralised access has four archivolts. The bell-tower is also Romanesque and is squared in shape and not very tall.
Although we lack documents regarding the founding of San Pelayo, it was probably founded as a parish church towards the year 1175. Its foundation was related to the change in function of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, given the need for more space and its difficult access.
