DISCOVER BILBAO

There is also more rain here, which is a mixed blessing. The green hills of Bilbao are a welcome relief after an extended stay in the dry plains in the south, but planning a day at the beach is less certain. The population of Bilbao proper is just over 372,000, but within the metropolitan area there are over 1,000,000 inhabitants.


MUSEUMS OF BILBAO

• Guggenheim Museum. Frank Gehry's spectacular twisting titanium clad modern art museum is perhaps the most celebrated building of the 1990s. The graceful, sensuous curves, evocative of the ships that used to be ubiquitous along the docks of Bilbao, are covered in titanium squares, which resemble the scales of a fish and shimmer in the sunlight.
  
  In keeping with the maritime theme, appropriate for the setting, the skylights of the largest gallery (formerly known as the Fish gallery) are designed to look like the fins of fish. Many parts of the building are pure decorative, and don't surve any purpose inside. The permanent collection is not particularly impressive, but the museum is always hosting at least one interesting temporary exhibit, frequently comprised of masterpieces from the other Guggenheim collections.
  
  
• Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Art), Plaza del Museo. The Museum of Fine Art's remarkable collection currently boasts more than six thousand works dating from the 12th century to the present day, and includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and decorative objects. Fares change for special exhibitions.
  
  
• Basque Museum (Euskal Museoa), Plaza Unamuno. Established in 1921 to focus on the prehistory, archaeology, ethnography and history of Euskadi (Basque homeland). Not a particulary well laid out museum. It will be of passing interest to people who study Basque culture.
  
  
• La Ria Maritime Museum, Muelle Ramon de la Sota, 1. Located in what used to be the Euskalduna shipyard, next to the current Euskalduna Performing Arts Center. The Museum covers an area of 27,000 square metres, 7,000 for indoor exhibitions and 20,000 for outdoor exhibitions, the three docks, the walkway surrounding them and the estuary.
  
  
• Museo Taurino (Bullfighting Museum), Martin Agüero, 1, Plaza de Toros de Vista Alegre, (Near Plaza Zabalburu),. Adjacent to a bullring, Museo Taurino highlights role bullfighting has played in Euskadi.
  
  
• Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro (Museum of Sacred Art), Plaza de la Encarnacion. A former convent founded in 1515 by Dominican nuns.
  
  
• Museo de Reproducciones Artisticas (Museum of Artistic Reproductions), Conde Mirasol. Full-scale reproductions of the world's most famous works of art. Call ahead for a guided visit.

CHURCHES OF BILBAO

• Cathedral of St. James (Santiago) Gothic Style 14th century Cathedral, named after Bilbao's official patron saint. Three naves and small Gothic cloisters. The building was designated a cathedral in 1949. Its Neogothic tower and main facade were designed by Severino de Achucarro in the 1800s. The adjoining square (Plaza de Santiago) bosts a fountain designed by Luis Paret during the reign of Carlos III with the inscription Por el bien publico (For the good of the people).
  
  
• Iglesia de San Anton Gothic style church from the first half of the 15th century (1422). Dedicated to San Anton in the 16th century, the building is a mixture of styles including a renaissance portico and baroque tower which was built in 1777. The church was constructed on the ruins of a former alcazar, and is shown on Bilbao's shield.
  
  
• Basílica de Begoña. Overlooking Bilbao, this is perhaps the most symbolic religious building in the city. Built in the 16th Century by Sancho Martinez de Arego, who was also responsible for the Iglesia San Anton. It is a basilica of three naves. During the first Carlista War, in 1835, the facade and the tower were destroyed. The present ones were designed Jose Maria Basterra and constructed between 1902 and 1907.
  
  
• Iglesia de San Nicolás, Esperanza. The Iglesia de San Nicolás, finished in the 19th century,is dedicated to the patron saint of sailors. One of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Vizcaya.
  
  
• Iglesia de San Vicente Martir, Plaza de San Vicente. Gothic church built in the 16th century.

OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST

• Birthplace of Miguel Unamuno, c/La Ronda 16, next to Plaza Unamuno (Metro station: Casco Viejo). Spanish author born on the 29th of September 1864. His works include the novels Niebla and San Manuel Bueno, Martir, which are both read in AP Spanish Literature classes in the United States. Unamuno died on the 31st of December 1936 in Salamanca.
  
  
• Teatro Arriaga. Orignially inaugurated on the 31th of May 1890, on the site of several former theaters, the first Teatro Arriaga burnt down on the 22th of December 1914. The second Teatro Arriaga was inaugurated on the 5th of June 1919. Evocative of the Opera House in Paris, the theater has an ornate facade and beautiful interior. The theater, as well as the square in front of it, was named after Juan Crosotomo de Arriaga, a composer from Bilbao. There is a tourist information office in the theater building, enter this office from Plaza Arriaga.
  
  
• Estacion de Santander (Santander Station, FEVE Station) also know as La Concordia was built between 1898-1902 on the banks of the Nervion. Designed by the engineer Valentín Gorbeña, with the art nouveau main facade added later with a design by the architect Severino Achucarro.
  
  
• Puente de San Anton Next to the Iglesia de San Anton sits Bilbao's most emblematic bridge.
  
  
• Mercado de la Rivera Another emblem next to the Iglesia de San Anton is the Mercado de la Rivera. One of the biggest covered markets in Europe. It was built in 1929 on the site of the original Rivera Street market. Produce fish and meet are sold in the market every morning, except Sundays.
  
  
• Plaza Nueva Bilbao's Plaza Nueva was originally named Plaza de Fernando VII. Construction began on the plaza on December 31, 1829 and finished exactly 20 years later on December 31, 1849. This plaza was the seat of the Diputacion de Vizcaya until July 1900 when the Diputacion moved to its new home on the Gran Via. The Academy of the Basque Language (Euskaltzaindia)currently occupies the old Diputation building in the Plaza Nueva. There is a market of used books, stamps, coins, and other small items in the plaza every Sunday morning.
  
  
• Palacio de la Diputacion Ornately decorated palace situated on the Grand Vía. Baroque-style monument designed by Luis Aladrén in 1897 to serve as the seat of the Diputacion Foral de Bizkaia(Vizcaya) and inaugurated on July 31, 1900. The interior is just as lavish as the exterior, with beautiful stained glass windows.
  
  
• Plaza Moyua and Grand Vía On the strech of the Gran Via between Plaza Abando and Plaza Moyua is the main shopping and fashion district of Bilbao. On this short stretch you can find tons of clothes shops(For, Zara, Mango, H&M) as well as El Corte Ingles. This is a must walk street.
  
  
• Parque Etxebarria The site of a former steel factory, this park was created in the 1980s as the first step of reorienting Bilbao from the industrial sector to the service sector. Wonderful views of the Casco Viejo and the Teatro Arriaga. There is a promenient chimney in the park, leftover from the site's time as a factory.
  
  
• Ayuntamiento (City Hall) (also known as la Casa Consistorial or Udaletxea) Plaza Ernesto Erkoreka, 94-420-4200. The city hall opened in 1892. Designed by architect Jaquin Rucoba in neo-baroque style. Don't miss the main reception area, called Arab Salon.
  
  
• Zubizuri The graceful white pedestrian bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava. It spans the ría Nervion connecting the riverwalks Campo Volatin and Mazarredo. Be careful, the bridge is slippery when wet!
  
  
• La Leona Lion statue on top of a building in Deusto. Seen from Euskalduna Performance Center.
  
  
• Bilbao Airport Curvaceous white 'bird-like' building by Santiago Calatrava. Strangely missing an arrival hall.
  
  
• Biblioteca Municipal de Bidebarrieta, Bidebarrieta, 4, (Casco Viejo, near Teatro Arriaga), tel. 94-415-6930. Commissioned by El Sitio society at the end of the 19th century, this building was built by architect Severino de Achucarro as a social hall. Now home to the city's historical archives and library.
  
  
• Palacio de Ibaigane, Alameda Mazarredo, 23, tel. 94-424-0877. Home to the Athletic Club de Bilbao, Bilbao's football team. Built in the early 20th century. note the arched entranceway.
  
  
• Palacio de Olábarri, Campo Volantín, 37, Palacete del Puerto Autonomo de Bilbao, tel. 94-487-1200. An interesting mix of several architectural styles. In the late 19th century it was the residence of Bilbaino entrepreneur José María de Olábarri. Now the seat of Bilbao's port authority.
  
  
• Santa y Real Casa de la Misericordia, Sabino Arana, 2, tel. 94-441-1900. Next to Plaza del Sagrado Corazon. Constructed in the mid-19th century as a charitable house for the poor.

THINGS TO DO IN BILBAO

• In the summer see an open air concert at the Kiosko del Arenal El Arenal Parque (across from Plaza Arriaga). The Stage was built in 1923, and rennovated in 1985.
  
  
• Beginning the first Sat after August 15th and lasting for 9 days is Aste Nagusia / Semana Grande, the city's fiesta (holiday). An interesting time to come.
• Walk through the seven streets of the Casco Viejo.
• Climb the stairs from Plaza Unamuno to Parque Etxebarri for the great views.
• Walk along the river.
• Walk through DoNa Casilda Iturrizar Park, admiring the ponds and gardens, next to the Fine Arts Museum.
• Take the Artxanda Funicular, again for the views.

From Wikipedia.org, the Free Encyclopedia


BILBAO TOURS, TRAVEL & ACTIVITIES

BILBAO HOTELS & ACCOMMODATION

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