Casa Torre de Salazar

Casa Torre de Salazar is a medieval defensive tower standing in the heart of Portugalete, a town at the mouth of the Nervión estuary in the Basque Country, within the Bilbao metropolitan area. The building stands right next to the Basilica of Santa María, inside the old town (casco histórico), and is one of the few surviving examples of medieval defensive architecture in the region.

Where did the tower come from?

The tower was built in 1379 by Ochoa García de Salazar, a member of the powerful Salazar lineage, who used it to control the ships and people entering the port as well as the roads leading into the town. The building later passed to his son, Lope García de Salazar, a figure well known in the history of Biscay: confined here as a prisoner following the family feuds of the time, he wrote his chronicle of the conflicts and events of medieval Biscay, a work that has earned him the reputation of the region's first chronicler. According to historical accounts, he died inside the tower, poisoned along with his illegitimate daughter Mencía de Avellaneda.

Over time the building's defensive role gave way to a residential one — the tower became the family's seat, adapted to everyday living while keeping its original, austere structure.

What is there to see?

Casa Torre de Salazar is a rectangular building measuring roughly 12 by 8.4 meters, built of rubble masonry with corners and window openings finished in cut sandstone. Its walls are over a meter thick, a clear reminder of the tower's original defensive purpose. The building rises across four floors, and its present castle-like appearance is the result of a reconstruction carried out in 1958–1959 by architect Joaquín de Irizar.

That reconstruction was needed because the tower burned down in 1934 during revolutionary unrest, destroying a valuable library that had been kept inside. After years of neglect, the building passed into the ownership of the Portugalete town council in 2003, which gave it its current cultural role.

Today Casa Torre de Salazar houses a museum dedicated to the town's history along with a temporary exhibition hall, and part of the building is home to a restaurant serving high-quality Basque cuisine. That combination makes it easy to pair a visit to the historical exhibition with a meal in a genuinely regional setting.

When to visit?

The tower sits right at the heart of Portugalete's old town, surrounded by other historic buildings, making it a natural stop on any walk through the historic center at any time of year. Since it functions as a museum, it is worth timing a visit to the exhibition's opening hours, and anyone planning to eat at the restaurant should check table availability in advance, especially in summer, when Portugalete draws more visitors also heading to nearby Bilbao.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Casa Torre de Salazar originally used for? It was a medieval defensive tower built in 1379 by the Salazar family to control ship traffic and the roads leading into Portugalete.

Who was Lope García de Salazar? The heir of the tower's builder, held here as a prisoner, who wrote a chronicle of the family conflicts of medieval Biscay — a work that earned him recognition as the region's first chronicler.

Why does the tower look like a castle? Because its current form comes from a 1958–1959 reconstruction after a 1934 fire, carried out by architect Joaquín de Irizar, who gave the building a more castle-like appearance.

What can you see inside today? A museum on the history of Portugalete, a temporary exhibition hall, and a restaurant serving Basque cuisine housed in part of the building.