Due to its strategic location and its gun battery, San Ignacio Fort, built around 1640, was one of the major points for defending the El Abra bay against enemy ships and pirate attacks, together with the small Arrigunaga Fortress and La Galea Fort.
In 1791, the Bilbao Consulate improved its communication systems placing flags at lookout posts or vantage points. The place chosen in Algorta was Usategi headland (dovecote in euskera), and it went on to become a key surveillance point for El Abra and for transmitting messages using pennants or different coloured flags (red, white and black). The signals sent were received on Mount Elorriaga and from there were transmitted to El Arenal in Bilbao. This place is hence also known as “Square of the Flags”.
In this spot, moreover, which offers marvellous views of the El Abra, on 12 August, the Algorta Port residents used to hold the religious pilgrimage in honour of San Nicolás.
And by watching the sea traffic entering and leaving the Port of Bilbao, we can learn what kinds of ships sail our waters: Cruise liners, gas tankers, container ships, leisure sailing boats and yachts, bulk carriers, fishing vessels, vehicle carriers, dredgers, oil tankers…