The first stone of this monument was installed in 1948 thanks to the popular colaboration, the help of Bizkaia, The Chamber of Commerce, The county council and The Town Hall of Bilbao. This work made by Ricardo Iñurria was inaugurated the 27th of August in 1950.
Our Lady of Carmen became very popular in Santurtzi in 1880. Legend has it that after an arson attack in The Covent of Our Lady of Carmen in Sestao, the images of saints were thrown to the river. Fishermen from Santurtzi quickly formed crews for two rowboats and managed to save the figure of Our Lady of Carmen by rowing rapidly along the river. The sculpture was taken to Santurzi, where it was displayed in The Church of Saint George untill 1932, when it finally disappeared in another blaze and was replaced by the figure currently on display. In 1907, Our Lady of Carmen was declared Santurtzi’s patron saint by Pope Pius X. It is difficult to know the joy that such a new produced in Santurtzi’s inhabitants, and it is for this reason that they celebrated it in style in the same year.
For 10 days , it is a party-time in Santurtzi. There are more than 100 events that give a special colour and joy to the streets of our town. The first day of the festivals, the Friday before to the 16th of July is the day of the Sardine. 2 or 3 tonnes of sardines are roasted in a traditional way and are given for free in the street.