Bilbao, lying 14km/9mi from the sea on the Río Nervión, is chief town of the Basque province of Vizcaya and the see of a bishop. It is also Spain's leading port in terms of revenue from goods handled, and the center of a gigantic industrial conurbation.
History
From its foundation in 1300 by Don Diego López de Haro, feudal lord of Vizcaya, Bilbao played an important part in the maritime trade on the north coast of Spain. Iron ore was exported from here to England, and the town's pre-industrial iron and steel industry brought it prosperity. Its rise to become one of Spain's leading industrial centers began in the mid 19th century with the development of industrial smelting of iron ore from the mines in the hinterland. During this period, particularly in the sixties and seventies, large numbers of people came to Bilbao from the poorer country regions in search of work. Heavy rainfall in 1983 led to floods which caused severe damage in the industrial areas.
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a fascinating building, with gleaming curves that reflect into the water of the Nervión River. The museum's collection of modern art focuses largely on sculpture.
Bilbao's Museum of Fine Art contains a vast collection of well known European masters, along with works by Basque artists and contemporary Spanish artists.
The district of Begoña lies on a higher level and is not part of the old town. Its pilgrimage church is most easily reached by taking the lift from behind the church of San Nicolás. There is also a footpath (20minutes' walk) to the top of the hill, from which there is a good view of the city. The church (16th C.) has an image of the Virgin of Begoña, patroness of the city, and an interesting painting of "The Pilgrimage of Begoña".
Address: Basílica de Begoña, Virgen de Begoña 38, E-48006 Bilbao, Spain
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 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.
Address: Marítimo Ría de Bilbao, Muelle Ramón de la Sota 1, E-48011 Bilbao, Spain
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.
Address: Plaza de Toros de Vista Alegre, Martín Agüero 1, E-48012 Bilbao, Spain
Southwest of the Museum in Plaza de Santiago, in the center of the old town, is the Catedral de Santiago, built in the early 14th century on one of the pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela. The original building was badly damaged by fire in 1571 and was then rebuilt in its present form, with a Renaissance porch on the south side and a Gothic cloister. The Neo-Gothic facade and tower date from the 19th century.
Address: Catedral de Santiago, Plaza Santiago 1, E-48005 Bilbao, Spain
Housed in the old Dominican convent, the museum displays a collection of religious art and artifacts, including sculptures, paintings, furniture, silverware, and liturgical garments.
Address: Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art, Plaza de la Encarnación, E-48006 Bilbao, Spain
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 Euskalduna Music and Conference Hall seen at night in Bilbao.
Address: Euskalduna Music and Conference Center, Avenida Abandoibarra 4, E-48011 Bilbao, Spain
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.
On the right bank of the Río Nervión, between the Puente de San Antón and the church of San Nicolás, extends the old town of Bilbao, linked by five bridges with the new town (the Ensanche). The core of the old town lies around the "Siete Calles" ("seven streets") - Somera, Artecalle, Tendería, Belosticalle, Carnicería Vieja, Barrencalle and Barrencalle Barena - with numbers of enticing shops, bars and cafes.
Interior view of the Church of San Anton in Bilbao.
The Plaza Nueva, to the south of San Nicolás, is enclosed by three-story buildings with arcades on the ground floor. It is the scene of popular fairs and colorful markets selling a great variety of local produce.
From the cathedral one of the "seven streets" leads down to the bank of the river. Along this on the left are the fine Market Hall and, at the end of the Puente de San Antón, the church of San Antón, which was built by Guillot de Beaugrant in the 15th century on the site of an earlier castle. The tower dates in its present form from the 18th century. There is a beautiful retablo by Beaugrant in one of the chapels.
Interior view of the Church of San Anton in Bilbao.
To the left of the bridge leading to the new town, the Paseo leads to the church of San Nicolás de Bari, on an octagonal plan, which dates from the 14th century but which was completely rebuilt in 1756. The beautiful carved altar was the work of Juan de Mena, who was also responsible for some of the paintings in the church.
Visitors approaching the old town from the north by way of the Puente del Arenal find themselves in the Paseo del Arenal, the main artery of this part of Bilbao. To the right, in Plaza de Arriaga, can be seen the Teatro Arriaga, built in 1890 and now renovated, the cultural hub of the city.
From Guecho (Basque Getxo), which still preserves a few handsome 19th century villas, there is a good general view of the estuary of Bilbao and its industrial installations. To the north lies Punta Galea, where new port facilities have been established for huge ocean-going vessels.
The Arriluce lighthouse in Getxo.
Address: Getxo Tourist Office, Playa de Ereaga, E-48990 Getxo, Spain
The road down the left bank of the Rio Nervion also passes through industrial suburbs, with iron and steelworks, including the Altos Hornos de Vizcaya rolling mill, the second largest in Spain.
From Bermeo C 6315 goes southeast to Mundaca, at the mouth of the broad Ría de Guernica, and continues to Guernica y Luno, from which the route continues on C 6212, heading north.
The road from Lequeitio/ Lekeitio follows the coast to the little fishing port of Ondárroa, charmingly situated in a bay on the borders of the province of Guipúzcoa. Its main features of interest are the fortress-like Gothic church of Santa María (1492) and a bridge of Roman origin.
C 6320 continues by way of Sopelana to the former fishing village of Plencia, which, like the neighboring village of Gorliz, has beautiful beaches. From here a road follows the coast to Bermeo.
The culinary specialty of Santurce, the next place on the road from Portugalete, is fried sardines - a reminder of the town's former importance as a fishing port, now increasingly being swallowed up in industrial development.
Address: Santurtzi Tourist Office, Parque de Gernika, E-48980 Santurtzi, Spain
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Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
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Museum of Fine Art, Bilbao
Bermeo, Bilbao
Puente Colgante, Portugalete
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Bilbao
Euskalduna Music and Conference Hall, Bilbao
San Antón, Bilbao
Surroundings, Bilbao
