This isn’t the first time we’ve spoken about a Mexican village named “Villa de Bilbao.” Our previous articles on it covered the area called the Dunes of Bilbao, which are quite the tourist attraction. But this time, we’re going back to Mexico because a painting of Our Lady of Begoña, freshly restored, has just been put back in its home in Begoña chapel.
The easel painting “Our Lady of Begoña,” dated to the 18th century, is a relevant work for the Villa de Bilbao community in Coahuila, as it’s linked to the founding of the town as well as having several miracles attached to it. And now it’s back home.
The painting, which was in quite poor condition before, was restored by an inter-disciplinary team at the National Coordination for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (CNCPC), a part of the federal Secretariat of Culture, via the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

The restoration of this work, which measures 2.80 × 2.17 m (9.2 × 7.1 ft), began in September 2021, and only finished just recently.

It’s quite interesting to see how its replacement in the chapel is right on the eve of the feast day of Our Lady of Begoña, October 11. So we can imagine that this year’s festival is going to be very special, now that the artwork is back to its full glory.
The restoration has also given this 18th-century work yet another “miracle,” this time of science, thanks to the spectacular work carried out by the restoration team.
Villa de Bilbao was founded by the Spanish crown in 1804 in modern-day Mexico, meaning that the town became an ejido.
INAH – 22/9/2023 -Mexico
El INAH entrega restaurada la pintura de caballete Virgen de Begoña al Ejido Villa de Bilbao, en Viesca, Coahuila
La pintura de caballete Virgen de Begonia, datada hacia el siglo XVIII, es una obra relevante para la comunidad del Ejido Villa de Bilbao, en Viesca, Coahuila, por estar ligada a la fundación de este sitio, a quien la feligresía atribuye diversos milagros; el 23 de septiembre de 2023 esta pieza católica será entregada, ya restaurada, a esa comunidad.
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Nosotros – 23/9/2023 -Mexico
Entregan pintura restaurada de la Virgen de Begoña a ejido en Viesca
La pintura de caballete Virgen de Begoña, datada hacia el siglo XVIII, obra relevante para la comunidad del Ejido Villa de Bilbao, en Viesca, en la Comarca Lagunera de Coahuila, por estar ligada a la fundación de este sitio y a quien la feligresía atribuye diversos milagros, fue entregada hoy a la capilla de la Virgen de Begoña.
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El Siglo de Torreón – 25/9/2023 – Mexico
Entregan pintura restaurada de la Virgen de Begoña en Villa de Bilbao, Viesca
El pasado sábado 23 de septiembre, el Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), a través de la Coordinación Nacional de Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural (CNCPC), realizó la entrega de la pintura de caballete Virgen de Begoña, la cual fue restaurada por especialistas, al ejido Villa de Bilbao, en el municipio de Viesca, Coahuila.
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Last Updated on Dec 3, 2023 by About Basque Country