Other Sights

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao encompasses two major aspects of art & architecture.The modern curved and undulating structure (built 1991-7) was designed by Frank O. Gehry on what was an estuary of the Nervión River. Even one of Bilbao's principal bridges passes through it and thus the museum wraps itself around the very heart of the city. Partly clad in Titanium, the structure has been interpreted as a silver-scaled school of fish. Other sections are covered with sandstone, glass curtain walls, and staircases which serve the fact that much of the structure is below grade so as not to conflict with the surrounding city.The interior contains 19 variously shaped galleries. The modern art collection places particular emphasis on sculpture.The museum features a rotating permanent collection as well as special exhibitions.

The Bilbao River Maritime Museum is comprised of an outdoor exhibition area and an enclosed building. The exterior portion consists of the docks with restored vessels and heritage buildings. Inside the museum, exhibits focus on the physical environment of the Estuary, the history of trade and business in the area, and the evolution of industry as it relates to the vicinity.

Memory Lane is a tribute to the industrial past, with sculptures by modern artists line the path.

The Benedicto Bilbao displays sculptures inspired by the paintings of Benedicto. The collection includes works by Jorge Castro, Dolores Ortega, Felix Etxebarria, Victoria Gordejuela, Paolo Nutri, Guille Isa, Jacobo Muria, Victor Sneider, José Ramón Nazabal, Leonidas Brazze, Esther de la Croix, Rosse Zinkie and Satur Peña.

The Euskalduna Music and Conference Hall was designed by Soriano and Palacios and built in 1999. The building is meant to symbolize the last ship built at the old Euskalduna shipyard. The facility covers 53,000 square meters and hosts symphony and ballet performances, as well as major conferences.

The Bullfighting Museum explores the eight main periods of the history of bullfighting. Guided tours include the Bullring, Chapel, Bullfighters quarters, individual bull pens, Dining-room, and Bull enclosure.

Housed in the old Dominican convent, the museum displays a collection of religious art and artifacts, including sculptures, paintings, furniture, silverware, and liturgical garments.

This pedestrian walkway connects the two sides of the river. It joins Avenida de las Universidades to the Abandoibarra Ribera Promenade.

Construction started in 1990 of the first section of a two-line meter-gauge metro. This is a 5km city-center tunnel between Lulxana and Casco Vieja, with seven stations; a later phase would see the tunnel extended to Basauri. At San Ignacio, the tunnel links with the meter-gauge ET/FV route to Plentzia, part of which is being grade-separated. The second phase would see a 10km line built from San Ignacio to Santurce via Cruces Llano and Urbinaga.

The airport is located 10km outside the city center.