From the beginning, we have conceived the project with society in mind.
Initially, the Getxo Town Council, together with the University of the Basque Country and supported by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and the Basque Government, decided that the special characteristics of this monument deserved to undertake a process that would restore it while offering it to society.
However, this restoration required a carefully considered approach. The first phase therefore focused on extensive research to ensure that the conservation work was carried out with accuracy and rigour, while safeguarding the building’s heritage values.
In 2015, we opened the Punta Begoña Galleries to visitors while restoration work was still under way. Since then, visitors have had the unique opportunity to witness the project’s progress first-hand, discovering the latest findings, the conclusions reached by the research team, and the many stories the building continues to reveal from within its walls.
As a result, the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda has joined the project’s existing institutional partners in supporting an initiative that promotes local development and generates lasting social benefits through knowledge, culture, leisure and civic pride.
The restoration work has been carefully planned to run alongside cultural, educational and community activities, fostering public participation while giving the community back the use of its heritage. To further advance the project and promote the site’s future use, the Punta Begoña Foundation was established in 2021.
Today, this journey of research, restoration and public engagement has established Punta Begoña as a centre for innovation, learning, creativity and exhibitions, open to the people of Getxo and visitors alike.
The launch of a comprehensive project, open to society, to restore and celebrate one of the region's most important architectural and historical landmarks.
Research that provides a sound basis for conservation work, ensures compliance with UNESCO's international heritage standards, and delivers lasting social value.
To ensure the quality of the research, the municipal technical team responsible for directing and coordinating the project’s first phase (2014–2020) was supported by five research groups whose combined expertise contributed to one of the most ambitious transdisciplinary research projects ever undertaken by the University of the Basque Country.
The findings of our research will not only guide the conservation of Punta Begoña but will also be applicable to many similar heritage sites and projects. The aim is to create lasting value both for the project itself and for the community of Getxo.
Restoring Punta Begoña and bringing it back into public use through a project designed to benefit the community.
