bilbao tourism - University of the Basque Country

Transcription

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Bilbao Tourism
ASHES TO TITANIUM, THE QUEST FOR BALANCE
BILBAO: A DESTINATION MAKING ITS MARK
THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM, A SHINING STAR
ARCHITECTURE IN BILBAO: THE SPACE WE LIVE IN
A DIFFERENT WAY TO DISCOVER BILBAO
SHOPPING: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN...
BILBAO'S FIRST HEARTBEAT, THE OLD TOWN
THE ‘ENSANCHE’, THE HEART OF THE CITY
STREET ART
BILBAO’S BRIDGES, THE CITY’S VITAL ARTERIES
BILBAO, A COMMITMENT TO DESIGN
BILBAO BIZKAIA OPEN MIND, THE BEST WAY TO GET TO KNOW US
THE NEW MERCADO DE LA RIBERA, A MUST-SEE
THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF SPORT IN BIZKAIA
BIZKAIA BRIDGE: SYMBOL OF BASQUE SPIRIT
TIME FOR SHARING, TIME FOR FUN WITH THE FAMILY
ARTXANDA FUNICULAR RAILWAY -FAST TRACK TO NATURE
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Convention Bureau
CONFERENCES & TRADE SHOWS: DESTINATION BILBAO
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Bilbao Bizkaia Eco-tourism
DISCOVER THE NATURAL WONDERS OF URDAIBAI-BUSTURIALDEA
AGRITOURISM: THE ALLURE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE
GORBEIA CENTRAL PARK, THE PLEASURES OF NATURE
ANBOTO, A MOUNTAIN OF LEGEND
THE SOURCE OF THE NERVIÓN RIVER, SIMPLY SPECTACULAR
FORESTS AND WOODS, A NATURAL TREASURE
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Coast of Bizkaia
SAN JUAN DE GAZTELUGATXE... AN ISLAND WITH A VIEW
SAND AND SURF AT THE BEACHES OF BIZKAIA
CRUISE SHIP TOURISM, ON THE RISE
FISHING PORTS, TOWNS WITH CHARACTER
MARINAS, HARBOURING PASSION
TIME FOR REST AND RESTORATION
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Historical Bizkaia
PLACES WHERE HISTORY WAS MADE
GERNIKA ASSEMBLY HOUSE AND EUSKERA
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Gastronomy
PINTXO HOPPING IN BILBAO AND BIZKAIA
TRADITIONAL OR AVANT-GARDE: GREAT PLACES TO EAT
BILBAO PASTRIES, PERFECT TREATS FOR ANY DAY
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Culture
FOR THE LOVE OF ART
THE ALHÓNDIGA: CONTEMPORARY FORUM FOR BILBAO
FROM SYMPHONY TO FOLK, A CITY AND ITS MUSIC
60 YEARS OF OPERA IN BILBAO
THE LARGEST PRIVATE COLLECTION OF ROLLS-ROYCES, RIGHT HERE IN BIZKAIA
CRISTÓBAL BALENCIAGA MUSEUM, THE ELEGANCE OF A GENIUS
BILBAO, PORT OF ENTRY INTO ‘THE BASQUE WORLD’
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Agenda
BILBAO CALENDAR OF EVENTS
BIZKAIA CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Published by:
Bilbao City Hall
Provincial Council of Bizkaia
Created by:
BizkaiaTour, S.L.
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Practical Information
HOTEL, TRANSPORT & TOURISM OFFICES
BILBAO BOOKING & BILBAO CARD
BILBAO STREET MAP & MAP OF BIZKAIA
TOURISM TRANSPORT AND FREE WIFI
Tourism 2013 Bilbao Bizkaia
BILBAO TOURISM
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ASHES TO TITANIUM,
THE QUEST FOR BALANCE
A
t the end of the 1980s, when Bilbao's key industries – large shipyards and steel mills – were reeling from the impact of the crisis,
leaving a desolate panorama of
industrial decay and more than
20% unemployment, who could have guessed that
in just over a decade the city would reinvent itself,
rising from the ashes like the legendary Phoenix
and becoming a shining example of urban renewal
to the rest of the world.
The list of prestigious awards garnered by the city
in recent years includes Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew
World City Prize, dubbed the Nobel prize for cities;
the Urban Best Practices Award at the Shanghai
World Expo; and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Municipal Transparency Prize, awarded by the Spanish division of
Transparency International in 2008, 2009 and 2010,
just to mention a few. Bilbao was selected to take
part in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo for its exemplary urban practices and granted the European
urban planning award by the European Council of
Town Planners. The roster of world-class architects
recruited to take part in the city's urban renewal
included such names as Gehry, Foster, Pelli, Isozaki, Hadid, Calatrava, Moneo, Siza, Starck, Legorreta
and Soriano.
The city has moved away from its grey industrial
past to become a shiny, warm and welcoming city –
a city that has uncovered its rich historic heritage
and successfully combined it with new projects and
ideas. In the process of regeneration Bilbao has
emphasised factors of sustainable development
that go beyond the scope of 'aesthetic' renovation.
The conversion of industrial spaces into urban use
has returned the river embankment to the public.
Once used as a port facility, the banks of the river
are now public spaces set aside for leisure and
recreation. Major investments in environmental
recovery projects have brought the Nervión River
back to life after decades of urban and industrial
waste had depleted the waters of the oxygen needed to sustain life. Cultural infrastructures such as
the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the enlargement of the Fine Arts Museum have triggered
the entire process of renewal and attracted visitors from around the world. Both The Times and
The Lonely Planet listed Bilbao among the 10 leading world tourism destinations in 2008. But in
addition to the city itself, the metropolitan area
offers a wide range of interesting destinations
and activities.
A few examples include the Bizkaia Hanging Bridge, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, or
any of the beaches and nearby coastal towns, such
as Getxo, Sopelana or Plencia, the latter of which
can be reached by metro. Also in the vicinity are a
number of options for nature lovers. Protected areas and parklands include Urkiola and Gorbea nature
parks, and the Urdaibai estuary, one of the most
beautiful landscapes in Europe, now included in the
UNESCO directory of biosphere reserves.
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Bilbao Bizkaia Tourism 2013
Tourism 2013 Bilbao Bizkaia 6
BILBAO: A DESTINATION
MAKING ITS MARK
I
n an increasingly globalized and competitive world, successfully establishing a
'brand' in the international marketplace
is a challenging task mastered by only a
select few. Much like companies, it is
highly valuable for cities and their economic activity to be identified with a unique
brand. Bilbao has indeed carved a name for itself,
placing the city squarely on the world map of tourism destinations.
In little more than a decade, the capital of
Bizkaia has become a tourism destination with
its own unique identity, able to attract visitors not
only from other parts of Spain, but also from every
corner of Europe and the United States.During this
time, Bilbao's visitor count has experienced a
stunning upward trend, from 25,000 to 726,000
visitors last year. Moreover, visitors are spending
increasingly more time in the city.With these figures in hand, tourism has clearly become a sector
of strategic importance for the economic and
social development of Bilbao, generating an
annual economic impact of over €200 million.
Sparked by the opening of the Guggenheim
Museum in 1997, the city now has all of the
infrastructures and services that explain the
boom in tourism. Bilbao offers visitors an excellent selection of hotels and more than 7,000
guest rooms.
All of the accommodations on offer are conveniently located and either housed in historical
buildings or in one of the city's cutting-edge
examples of architecture and design. Getting
around the city is quick and easy. Bilbao's public
transport includes one of the world's most
modern metro systems. Designed by Norman
Foster, it is not only striking but also ranks as one
of the safest in the world. Bilbao also has an
innovative tram, an excellent urban and regional
bus system, and a network of local commuter
trains that make it easy for people travel to
nearby coastal towns and parks.
Bilbao is also the most important hub in northern
Spain and the Atlantic Arc countries in terms
of land, sea and air transport.
The Bilbao airport now services a total of 13 airlines providing regular flights to most of Europe's major airports in under three hours, and with
connections to other European and international
airports. The city is also served by a network of
motorways and highways, connecting Bilbao
with the most important cities in Spain and
Europe.
With the Guggenheim Museum and the Museum
of Fine Arts heading the list, the cultural scene
includes 11 world-class museums and over 20
art galleries and exhibition spaces, as well as an
internationally acclaimed opera season.
Most of the best Basque restaurants and restaurateurs are also based in Bilbao. Dining can
range from exclusive Michelin-star cuisine to
traditional fare, to grill houses, taverns and cider
houses. All of these ingredients place Bilbao on
the world map of the most attractive city
destinations.
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THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM,
A SHINING STAR
W
hen Frank O. Gehry was
awarded the commission to create the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
project, he could never
have known that the building which had been
living in his imagination would end up becoming a
masterpiece of universal architecture.
In fact, he once said that while an architect may
be convinced that he has done his best work ever,
he really has no idea how it will feel once he goes
inside for the first time and explores its spaces.
With the Guggenheim Bilbao, Frank Gehry created
a sculptural icon that is both exciting and aweinspiring in equal measure.
Despite the building’s ultra-modern silhouette of
titanium-covered, undulating contours in apparently random collision with regular stone-fronted
forms, the building actually reflects the history of
the city, its busy port and industrial activity.
Surprisingly, its colossal size does not overwhelm
the surrounding buildings as it is built on land that
once belonged to the dock area on the left bank of
the Nervión river, set 16m below the rest of the
city. In fact, to reach the main entrance, visitors
must descend a wide set of steps which run down
from the esplanade at the front of the Museum,
giving a sense of being submerged in the building.
The entrance hall leads into the atrium, which is
the heart of the building. This 55m-high, naturally
lit, glass-walled central area interconnects all the
juxtaposed gallery halls. The views of the city
on all sides of the atrium give the visitor a sense
of walking out into the open and back in again
when walking from gallery to gallery. From the
atrium there are lifts to the two upper floor galleries, which are joined by footbridges and a ringshaped passageway.
The shape of the interior of each of the galleries
is a reflection of its external shape. The titaniumclad contours reveal uniquely shaped interiors
which have high, curved walls and complement
the larger works of many contemporary artists.
Within the stone-faced, regular-shaped parts of the
building are more classical square-shaped interiors,
each about 3m high offering an ideal environment in
which to display more classical pieces.
The different shapes and styles of the galleries
lend variety to the visit while the atrium serves as
a central point of reference throughout.
The building is framed by ponds on either side,
one on the city side and the other on the river.
The latter has a pedestrian bridge over it joining
the Abandoibarra walkway at both ends. There
are two elements in particular which add singularity to the overall sculptural composition of the
building.
One is the 30m+ elongated section which runs from
the atrium to under the La Salve bridge and houses
an enormous columnless gallery with sculptures
by Richard Serra; the other is the stone tower built
at the end of this section which appears as if it
were wrapped around the overhanging bridge.
With the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Frank
Gehry created a masterpiece, giving the city the
sense of renewed optimism it needed to ensure
the success of the revitalization process for which
the city has become famous.
www.guggenheim-bilbao.es
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ARCHITECTURE IN BILBAO:
THE SPACE WE LIVE IN
O
f all the artistic disciplines,
architecture is perhaps the
one that plays the greatest
social function and which puts
the greatest demands on
artists. The role of the architect is not just to excite and move us, but to create spaces that fulfil their intended function or purpose.
The process of urban renewal at the end of the
1980s enabled Bilbao to convert centrally located
port and industrial spaces on the left bank of the
river into areas designated for public use.
Today it is undeniable that Bilbao did an excellent
job putting the large tract of abandoned land
known as Abandoibarra to good use. Today the
area is a shining example of Bilbao in the 21st
century.
In fact, Bilbao's process of urban renewal has garnered many awards and international accolades,
including the Citta D’Aqua prize awarded in 2004
by the Biennial of Architecture of Venice from
among 19 candidate cities; the European urban
planning award, granted by the European Council
of Town Planners in 2004 and 2006; and the 2005
Award for Excellence from the International
Society of City Regional Planners (ISOCARP). Bilbao was also selected as one of the cities to
represent achievements in urban best practices at
the Shanghai World Expo.
A number of world-class architects were recruited
to take part in Bilbao's urban renewal. A walk
along Abandoibarra will showcase some of the
extraordinary feats of architecture and reveal Bilbao's constant eye on the future: the Metro designed by Norman Foster; the Tram; the Zubizuri brid-
ge designed by Santiago Calatrava and the Pedro
Arrupe footbridge, by José Antonio Fernández
Ordóñez; the Guggenheim Museum by Frank O.
Gehry; The Euskalduna Conference Centre and
Music Hall by Federico Soriano and Dolores Palacios; the new hotels designed by internationally
recognised names including Legorreta, Miró and
Mariscal; The Deusto University library by
Rafael Moneo; University of the Basque Country
auditorium by Alvaro Siza; Iberdrola Tower by
César Pelli; Plaza Euskadi by Diana Balmori; and
the Isozaki Towers.
The architectural boom can be seen not only in
the Abandoibarra area but throughout the entire
city. Virtually every neighbourhood is dotted with
large- or small-scale projects, creating 'mini-spaces' for social integration and contributing to community development. Many of the projects impact
people's daily lives, such as the new Miribilla
church with its 24-metre glass belltower.
The white facade contrasts with the colourful
stained-glass windows which allow the sunlight
to filter into the building's stark minimalist interior. This unique church was conceived by IMB,
the Bilbao-based architects' studio also responsible for the Regional Government library, the commuter train vestibule at the Amézola station and
the Bilbao town hall enlargement project.
Located in the city centre, La Alhóndiga is a former wine warehouse remodelled by Philippe
Starck. The building's 43000 square metres is now
a large multi-purpose arts and activities centre.
Facilities include a cinema, exhibition rooms, a
multimedia library, restaurants, a cafe, and a
spectacular glass-bottomed swimming pool that
seems to hover over the building's central atrium.
The atrium itself is supported by 43 huge columns,
each with its own unique width and design.
As for the immediate future, Bilbao is currently
focusing on Zorrozaurre, a major urban regeneration project twice the size of Abandoibarra designed by internationally acclaimed British-Iraqi
architect Zaha Hadid. The Zorrozaurre masterplan includes the construction of 5,473 homes,
half of which will be protected housing, on a surface area of 579,945 sq metres, and another
201,360 sq metres for workshops, labs, studios,
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and offices for nearly 6,000 working people.
Two thirds of the surface area will be set aside for
public use, including 155,893 sq metresof open
space and 84,936 sq metres of infrastructure.
The Zorrozaurre masterplan will create a waterfront park for the neighbourhood of San Ignacio,
and three new park areas totalling 33,470 sq
metres. Bilbao's firm commitment to quality architecture is rooted in the conviction that architecture shapes the space in which we live and move.
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A DIFFERENT WAY
TO DISCOVER BILBAO
BILBAO TURISMO OFFERS GUIDED TOURS OF THE OLD QUARTER & THE ENSANCHE - ABANDOIBARRA AREA
B
ilbao Turismo invites visitors to
join a professional tour guide to
learn about Bilbao's past, present and future. Two different
itineraries are available – one of
the Old Town and the other of Bilbao's Ensanche-Abandoibarra district. The tours are
offered on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Don't
miss out!
INSIGHT INTO THE CITY'S ORIGINS
A fascinating itinerary takes you back in time to medieval Bilbao to see the cobbled streets, hidden corners and
delightful squares that once witnessed the bustling trade of a thriving port city. Discover the city walls, the Gothic
cathedral of Santiago, the 19th-century Plaza Nueva, the emblematic church of San Antón, the ancient ruins upon
which the city was built, and the busy Mercado de la Ribera – more than 500 years in the history of a remarkable
city seemingly unaffected by the passing of time. WHEN: Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10.00 throughout the
year. MEETING POINT: Bilbao Tourism Office (by the Arriaga Theatre).
Pictures of some of the sites included in the Old Town guided tour. Upper left: church and bridge of San
Antón. Above: Bilbao City Hall. Directly above left and right: the Arriaga Theatre and a street in the Old
Town. Below: Plaza Nueva.
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CITY EXPANSION, LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
This tour explores Bilbao's architectural and urban development from the 19th century to the present, taking a
look at the throbbing heart of a city where tradition and modernity converge. A walk through the Ensanche and
Abandoibarra districts is a good way to discover Bilbao's enterprising spirit. Enjoy a veritable open-air architecture and sculpture museum, a clear example of a city with its sights set on the future. WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays at 12.00 noon throughout the year. MEETING POINT: Bilbao Tourism office (by the Guggenheim Museum).
JOIN A TOUR
If you're interested in a walking tour, simply show
up at the meeting point 10 minutes before departure
time.
Tours are conducted in Spanish and English. Either
of the tours can be arranged at different dates and
times for groups of 15 or more. Group tours: Tours
are also available in Basque, French, German and
Italian. Advanced booking is required.
Price: Individual €4.50 / Groups €4.00 per person
Each tour lasts approximately 90 min.
Information: (34) 94 479 57 60
informacion@bilbaoturismo.bilbao.net
Pictures of sites included in the EnsancheAbandoibarra guided tour. Above: Abando gardens. Left, above and below: Plaza Circular and
Abando Metro station. Below: Isozaki towers.
SHOPPING:
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
T
he San Antón bridge and church
feature in the coat of arms of Bilbao. What the coat of arms doesn't
reveal is that the church stood at
the entrance of the largest covered
market in Europe. Today, the
recently refurbished Mercado de la Ribera is a
must-see. The market is the perfect jumping off
point for exploring the treasures of Bilbao’s 'Siete
Calles' – the seven original streets of the medieval
city – and from there, the neighbourhoods that
expanded once the old city walls came down.
The culture of gastronomy is an important part of
life for the people of Bilbao. This passion can be
seen in what is one of Bilbao’s most beloved traditions, the txikiteo.
At certain hours you're likely to see groups of locals
partaking in this Basque version of bar-hopping,
enjoying a small glass of wine (txikito) or 'mini-beer'
(zurito), generally accompanied by a mouth-watering
bite-sized pintxo. And if there's one place to see Bil-
bao tradition at its best, it's the Old Town, one of the
most important city shopping districts in Europe. At
the edge of the Arenal gardens is the Café Boulevard,
opened over a century ago.
The gardens are an oasis in the city, planted with
oak trees, chestnuts, acacias and a lime tree, the
symbol of Bilbao. A number of curiously shaped fountains provide a cool fresh atmosphere, and the Kiosko
de la Música, an old-style bandstand, adds a touch of
romanticism. The medieval Old Town provides the perfect opportunity to discover the essence of Bilbao and
its long-standing tradition of trade and commerce.
It's not easy to stroll through the streets of the Old
Town without being lured into one of the more
than 500 shops, bars and restaurants. Shoe shops
such as Foxter, clothing companies such as Olañeta, Cardenal, Skunk Funk, Loreak Mendian and Gili
Gili, the well-loved almond nougat shop Turronería
Ivañez and the Bizkarra pastry shop, just to mention a few.
La Bacalada codfish sellers is another Bilbao
favourite. Located on Calle Belosticalle, La Bacalada is situated in the ground floor of the building
that once housed Almacenes Amann, Bilbao's first
department store. The beautiful Palacio Allende
Salazar building is home to Rafael Matías, Europe's leading purveyor of fashion designer fabrics.
These Bilbao classics sit side by side with the
some of the city’s trendiest boutiques. And when
it’s time for a break from shopping, there are several fantastic cafés in the area.
Plaza Nueva is both a national monument and a
place of time-honoured tradition. Under the arches
that frame the neoclassical square, visitors can
enjoy a wide range of gastronomic experiences at
restaurants including Víctor or prize-winning pintxo
bars such as the Bilbao or the Gure Toki. Every
Sunday morning Plaza Nueva also becomes the setting for Bilbao's weekly stamp and coin market.
A walk through the streets of Bilbao is a walk
through history with a vision for the future. Bilbao is
a city that has reinvented itself, a city that shines
with its own light, a place that makes us want to
show visitors the best of ourselves. We Bilbainos
are very proud of our city, a city where dreams
come true.
ABANDO,
THE NEW BILBAO
Any which way you approach the city, you'll inevitably head down a road that ends up in a plaza. For
example, the busy avenue Hurtado de Amézaga
leads to Plaza Circular, the beginning of the
Ensanche district.
One of the city's major shopping streets, Gran Vía,
radiates out from this large circular plaza. Here visitors will find department stores such as El Corte
Inglés interspersed with modern boutiques including
For and Moca, as well as a traditional pastry shop or
two such as Pastelería Arrese. Only in Bilbao can
you try our delicious locally made butter buns. Bilbao is known throughout Spain for its wide selection of excellent confectionery. The vintage café and
restaurant La Granja can also be found on Plaza Circular. If you head towards the Plaza del Sagrado
Corazon, with its towering statue of the Sacred
Heart, and turn on Calle Berástegui, you'll reach Jardines de Albia. On one side of this park is Café Iruña, a long-time favourite meeting spot for many
Bilbainos.
Parallel to Gran Vía are the pedestrianised street
Calle Ledesma and the shopping street Colón de
Larreátegui. A number of traditional shops can be
found on Ledesma alongside the Asian restaurants
Sumo and Asian Chic and the clothing label For46.
Colón de Larreategui is known for its shoe and
accessories shops, as well as several particularly
attractive establishments like Arnaga stationers,
and boutiques including Falstaff and B54.
Another beautiful part of Bilbao is the Ensanche district. The Mercado del Ensanche building, home
to the Bilbao Turismo Office, is surrounded by
streets lined with quality boutiques, design and
home decoration shops and galleries. The entire
Ensanche area is known for its excellent cafés and
restaurants, including the Ein Prosit, run by the Thate brothers, specialists in German cuisine.
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When you walk along the streets of Bilbao, you're
walking on a bed of roses – well, almost! The
flagstones on our city sidewalks are designed with
a flower pattern. Loewe, the luxury brand specialised in leather goods, can be found on Plaza
Moyúa. And be sure not to miss the tasty pintxos
and drinks served at the bars and cafés on Calle
Diputació, La Viña, La Olla, El Globo and Embrujo
just to name a few.
If you ask the locals for a good place to taste the
typical Bilbao sandwich, there are bound to recommend the Eme, next door to the Bodeguilla
Vallejo. Several main arteries radiate out from the
colourful Plaza Moyúa, with streets bustling with
shops, bars, cafes and pastry shops. Martina de
Zuricalday, Pastelería la Suiza, Pastelería Don
Manuel, Jauregui…
On the stretch of Gran Vía between Plaza Moyúa
and Plaza del Sagrado Corazón a number of shop
windows are sure to catch your attention, including
Louis Vuitton, Max Mara, and the jewellery shops
Suárez and Eguzkilore. Also worth mentioning is the
home decoration shop Máximo Aguirre.
rre streets. And don't forget to stroll down García
Rivero to experience one of the liveliest streets in
the city, known for its high concentration of pintxo
bars. Ercilla is a pedestrianised street where visitors will also find excellent shopping. And if you
continue down Alameda de Urquijo, you'll arrive at
San Mamés, home to the Athletic de Bilbao football club.
This is where you want to be to feel the excitement
in the air when our team plays at home.
The Indautxu district has recently undergone major
urban renewal. Plaza Bizkaia, the peaceful Plaza
Arriquibar, with its giant lime trees, and Plaza
Indautxu, at the heart of this residential area, mark
the borders of a top-notch shopping and entertainment district.
Fashion boutiques are concentrated mainly on Iparraguirre, Ercilla, Rodríguez Arias and Máximo Agui-
Hours before a match Calle Licenciado Poza is packed
so tightly with people donning the team's colours –
red and white – that there's barely room for a pin.
Fans of all ages make the most of the minutes before
a match to get together with their friends.
Some of the favourite restaurants on this street are
famous Serantes, Viejo Zortzi, Lasa and Enol. As for
bars, the traditional meeting places include Mugi and
Huevo Berria.
WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN…
W
hen the sun goes down,
the nightlife in Bilbao
takes over – and goes
on and on! It starts
when the Bilbainos
finish their workday and
ends when the vast array of bars, cafés and
nightclubs shut their doors in the wee hours of
the morning.
In every corner of the city, from the Old Town to
Indautxu to Ensanche to Deusto, the traditional
txikiteo, a kind of ritual bar crawl, kicks into high
gear. Every day groups of friends meet up in their
favourite txikiteo neighbourhood, each person
catching up with the group as he or she gets off
work – no need for a rendezvous time or place in
this popular past-time.
Many of these groups of people, cuadrillas as
they're known locally, are life-long friends who
once played together as kids. Even as they grow
up and embark on their careers, this consecrated
tradition keeps the bonds of friendship strong.
Some of the most veteran cuadrillas prefer the
Old Town and some of the other traditional txikiteo areas. It's not unusual to hear someone in the
cuadrilla spontaneously break into song, soon joined by the rest of the group or even passers-by.
After dinner, in the same areas and in other parts
of the city the short, stemless txikito glass is
replaced by the cocktail glass.
Bilbao offers visitors a vibrant nightlife. When
the restaurants close, a wide variety of nightclubs and bars keep the action going late into the
night.
The long list of venues ranges from bars, pubs
and discos to fancy ballrooms and cabarets, each
with its own ambience. Visitors of all ages will
find a dynamic nightlife in a safe environment –
and where walking is the preferred means of
transportation.
Enjoy a relaxing drink on the outdoor terrace at
the La Alhóndiga followed by a thrilling evening at the casino. Stroll past the numerous bars
offering live music. Discover the beautiful 19th
century cafés or the trendy cocktail bars in some
of the city's most lively nightlife streets, such as
Alameda Urquijo and the stretch along Licenciado Poza, locally known as 'Pozas'. Bilbao's nightlife boasts something for every age group, and
as the night progresses, the number of people
in the streets turn the city into a giant pedestrian
walkway.
Not far from the centre is the Deusto area, a
favourite haunt for students, who frequent the
café-theatres and pubs in Abandoibarra and
Indautxu. And for jazz fans, there's a concert held
every Thursday night at the Bilbaina Jazz Club in
the basement of 'La Bilbaina' building next to
the Arenal bridge.
Although it might sound like just another selftouted Bilbao claim to fame, there's nothing quite
like a delicious Bilbao gin and tonic. In fact, Bilbao-born David Ríos, owner of the Kobuk café in
Barakaldo, was awarded the gold medal for
the best gin and tonic in Spain!
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BILBAO'S FIRST HEARTBEAT,
THE OLD TOWN
A
lmost every town and city has
interesting sites and beautiful
nooks and crannies. If properly
preserved, these are the places
that give a city its unique character and essence, the things
that set it apart and define the soul
of a city.
But it is the origin, the starting point of every settlement, of every town and city, where the first
heartbeat can be heard. This is where the town’s
genetic code is kept, the beginning of its history
and, in many cases, its very raison d'etre. In Bilbao
that first heartbeat emerged in the seven streets
that run parallel from the right bank of the
Nervión River to the church of San Antón.
Bilbao was once known as the 'Bocho', a tiny town
born in a narrow valley between two rows of
mountains, the town that would become one of the
most important ports on the Iberian Peninsula in
the Middle Ages, exporting wool from Castile and
iron from the mines of Bizkaia to the rest of
Europe. Although Bilbao was not granted its city
charter until 1300, we know that there were settlements here dating back to earlier times. In recent
years the remains of the old wall, possibly dating
to the 11th century, were found underneath the
church of San Antón. After excavating the site, a
glass window was installed in a section of the
church floor to allow visitors a glimpse of
Bilbao’s past.
The church of San Antón, which by the way features in the city's coat of arms, is an excellent place
to begin exploring Bilbao's Old Town and the seven
streets where the medieval town took root.
Next to San Antón is the Mercado de la Rivera,
the largest covered market in Europe, currently
undergoing a major project to refurbish it back to
its original Art Deco splendour.
From the Mercado de la Ribera any of the seven
streets lead to Santiago Cathedral and plaza, or
to the church of Santos Juanes. Next to Santos
Juanes visitors will find the Museum of Archaeo-
logy and Ethnography. Just a few steps from here
is Plaza Nueva, built in the 18th century as an
expansion to the seven original streets. Under the
arches surrounding the rectangular square are
several lively taverns serving delicious local tapas,
known here as pintxos.
As you leave Plaza Nueva via any of the streets
in the Old Town, make sure you look up at the houses. Many of the facades are decorated with beautifully glazed balconies, and a number of solid stone houses feature impressive family coats of arms,
bearing testimony to the success of many Bilbao
merchants.
The city eventually decided to expand to the other
side of the river, with Arenal Park marking the border of the Old Town. Here, the church of San Nicolás was constructed in the late 18th century and
the Arriaga Theatre opened its doors a little
more than a century later. Today the Old Town is
known for its excellent shopping, where classic
shop windows intermingle with trendy boutiques
and modern chain stores.
THE ‘ENSANCHE’,
THE HEART OF THE CITY
Bilbaína building, and if we continue on up to the
Plaza Circular, we can see a statue of the founder of
the city, Don Diego López de Haro. On the left is the
Abando railway station with its enormous ironwork
structure featuring beautiful stained glass scenes of
activities associated with Bizkaia’s economy. Oppo-
site the upper end of the station, at the beginning
of Calle Bertendona, is the Teatro Campos Elíseos.
The theatre was designed by Acebal and Frenchman Darroguy, and is sometimes referred to as ‘the
Bertendona bonbonnière’, its Modernist doorway
considered a prime example of Art Nouveau in
Bilbao.
L
ike many other European cities at
the beginning of the 19th century,
the population of Bilbao was growing and there was a need for the
city to grow with it. In fact, Bilbao’s
first plan for expansion, or ensanche, was proposed by architect Silvestre Pérez in
1801, although the project was ultimately rejected.
The growth in mining and the technological revolution in the iron and steel industry led to a population
explosion and the emergence of a new middle class.
In fact, the population of the city grew five-fold in
the second half of the century, from 18,000 in 1857
to 85,000 by the end of the century, making it
impossible to delay expansion any longer. Following
the ambitious scheme put forward by engineer
Amado Lázaro, which was again met with rejection,
the subsequent expansion project proposed by
architect Severino Achúcarro and engineers Pablo
Alzola and Ernesto Hoffmeyer was approved in
1876. Bilbao finally crossed the river and República de Abando became part of the city.
The 1,600m long and 30m wide Gran Vía formed the
axis of the new urban expansion scheme, and the
area became known as the ‘Ensanche’ district. Soon
the main institutions, banks and major companies
moved their main offices there, thus giving the new
city their seal of approval. These companies generally had their headquarters designed by the leading
architects of the day and the buildings now represent some of the best examples of 20th century
urban architecture. If we start at the Arenal, at the
edge of the old town and cross the bridge heading
uptown, we come across a fine collection of buildings. Just across the river is the wonderful façade
of the Estación de Santander and the Sociedad
Continuing along the Gran Vía, half way between
Plaza Circular and Plaza Elíptica, is the Provincial
Government building (Palacio de la Diputación Foral
de Bizkaia), a solid, elegant building with a dressed
stone façade, pedimented windows and an imposing balcony over the main entrance. The entrance
hall has a majestic and imperial stairway and is
decorated with stained glass windows, sculptures,
and frescoes by Anselmo Guinea. To the right of the
Gran Vía, surrounding the tranquil and leafy Jardines de Albia park, are some wonderful buildings by
renowned architects. The Bizkaian poet Antonio de
Trueba died in one of these buildings and his
remains are buried in the nearby 6th-century Basque Gothic-style church of San Vicente. San Vicente
boasts an open nave, renaissance portico with
triumphal arch and altarpiece. A statue made in
19
1895 by Mariano Benlliure stands outside to
commemorate the poet. On one corner of the
park stands the Café Iruña, with its beautiful
neo-Moorish interiors.
A few metres away we find the Palacio de Ibaigane, a Basque-style mansion designed by architect Gregorio de Ibarretxe for Sir Ramón de la
Sota.
The building was purchased by the Athletic Club
de Bilbao football club and completely refurbished some years ago. Nearby, the old market building in the Plaza del Ensanche is now home to
the Bilbao Tourism Office, the Bilbao 700 Foundation, the youth information bureau and the
local newspaper.
once owned by the Chávarri brothers, engineers
who made a significant contribution to the industrial development of Bizkaia.
Along the streets off this square there are excellent boutiques, home design shops, art galleries
and so on housed in elegant buildings dating
from the 20s, 30s and 40s, many of which have
decorated façades and glass-enclosed balconies.
A block away, you can visit the recently pedestrianised Plaza de Jado with its spectacular marble fountain surrounded by three lions.
This beautiful building by Atanasio de Anduiza y
Uribarri was completed in 1894 and is currently
the headquarters of the local Civil Government.
Its most outstanding feature is that no two windows or balconies are alike.
A block further is the Plaza Elíptica, which splits
the Gran Vía in half and is the true centrepoint of
the Bilbao expansion. All the major streets
spread out from this point.
There are two noteworthy buildings on the plaza:
the Carlton hotel, a combination of the Paris Ritz
and the London Carlton, designed by Manuel Mª
de Smith e Ibarra, declared a building of cultural
interest; and the Palacio de Chávarri, a mansion
STREET ART
B
ilbao's 11 museums house a
wealth of artistic treasures,
from avant-garde expressions of modern art at the
Guggenheim Museum to
masterpieces of religious art
at the Diocesan Sacred Art Museum.
Museum, and Maman, the huge spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois, on the river side of
the Museum. Not far from the Museum, on
Paseo de la Memoria, we find Maia by
William Tücker and Explorer's Book by Sir
Anthony Caro, as well several other sculptures. In front of the town hall is a work by the
great Basque sculptor Jorge Oteiza entitled
Ovoid Variant of the Idleness of the Sphere.
And the streets of Bilbao are not only decorated with sculptures.
On one side of Plaza Indautxu sits the socalled 'Casa de los Aldeanos', a house built
by architect Adolfo Gil for Luis Lerchundi.
But not all of Bilbao's artwork is hidden
behind the walls of museums and galleries.
The streets of Bilbao are an outdoor museum,
adorned with sculptures created by wellknown artists.
Built in 1930, this house earned its nickname
from the frescoes that adorn the façade. The
multicoloured frescoes depict traditional scenes from rural Basque life – villagers at
work, peasants, fishermen and processions.
Next to the Bizkaia Provincial Government
building on Bilbao's Gran Vía, we find El Caminante by sculptor José Ramón Gómez Nazabal,
and just a short distance from there, a bust of
one of the framers of the American Constitution, John Adams, by Lourdes Umerez.
The 16 scenes painted on the walls are arranged in pairs, framing the building's eight
balconies.
The Abandoibarra area is also graced with
sculptures, not least of which is Jeff Koons'
Puppy, the gigantic flower-festooned terrier
that sits at the entrance of the Guggenheim
The romanticised folk decor now sits in stark
contrast with the recently refurbished modernstyle city square. These examples of architecture, painting and sculpture are an invitation for passers-by to discover the many
other works of art that brighten the streets of
Bilbao.
21
BILBAO’S BRIDGES,
THE CITY’S VITAL ARTERIES
B
ilbao owes its very existence to
the Nervión river, evolving as a
natural port in the city’s earliest
history. Over time the river became the city’s life force, playing a
key role in its thriving development. Through the different eras, this growth was
accompanied by the building of bridges to join the
different parts of the city as it spread out downriver towards the sea.
Recognition of the importance of bridges in the city’s history is reflected in its crest, which features
San Antón, the first bridge to be built and now the
symbol of the city.
Nowadays, thirteen bridges cross the river and a
simple glance at their style and architecture reveals a lot about Bilbao’s past. The bridge furthest
inland, in fact located upstream from the San
Antón bridge, is the imposing 50-meter-high
Miraflores viaduct, one of the main access routes
into the city.
Downriver, there are three bridges which join the
city’s historical areas – Bilbao’s old town (Casco
Viejo) and old Bilbao (Bilbao la Vieja): the San
Antón bridge, the Ribera footbridge, adjacent to
the market, and the Merced bridge, which gets its
name from the historic convent and church nearby.
While they have all faced the ravages of time and
been partly or fully rebuilt over the years, they are
a part of the city’s history that remains very much
alive today.
A sudden growth in population led to expansion of
Bilbao towards the República de Abando district of the city, and the Arenal bridge was the
first part of the new expansion scheme to be built.
The city continued to grow and in the 1930s, the
Town Hall bridge was built. Like the Arenal bridge,
it too was originally a bascule bridge.
Bilbao’s urban revitalization process initiated in
the 1990s led to the dockland area of the city
being moved out from the city centre to the area
known as the Abra, or open sea at the river mouth,
allowing the city’s inhabitants to repossess the
dockland for recreational and other civic purposes.
To this end, three new bridges were built: the Euskalduna bridge, and the Zubizuri and Pedro Arrupe
footbridges, facilitating access to the city’s new
cultural venues: the Guggenheim Museum and the
Palacio Euskalduna Conference Center and
Concert Hall.
Between the old and the new are two more bridges built during the boom era of the twentieth century: La Salve bridge, built to cater for the sudden and dramatic growth in traffic in the second
half of the century, and the Deusto bascule bridge,
which joined the parish of Deusto to the city at the
beginning of the century.
There are two more bridges which are outside the
city limits, strictly speaking, but are in fact considered part of it, based on the city charter which
states that the river is part of Bilbao until it reaches the Abra or open sea. The first of these is
the Rontegui bridge, built at the beginning of the
1980s and is now one of the main arteries to and
from greater Bilbao. The second is the Bizkaia
Bridge, locally known as the Puente Colgante, the
oldest transporter bridge in the world, declared a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2006.
Turismo 2013 Bilbao Bizkaia 22
BILBAO, A COMMITMENT TO DESIGN
D
esign is a constant presence in
our daily lives even though we
are often not even aware of it.
Good design is about combining functionality, convenience
and visual appeal in many of
the objects and processes we use almost every
day. Good design enhances people's lives.
With this in mind, a number of public and private
organisations have joined forces to raise the profile of design in Bilbao and the rest of the Basque
Country. Sponsors include the Basque Government, Cebek, the Chamber of Commerce, architects and economists associations, Basque universities and institutions associated with innovation,
design and business development, and partner
organisations such as the Automotive Intelligence
Center, LastTour International, Microsoft, the Basque Audiovisual Cluster, Basquegame, Basque
Habitat & Contract Cluster, BBVA, Iberdrola, Fundación Euskaltel, BBK, Petronor, Gamesa and
MCC. One of the first actions was to present Bilbao as a candidate city for the World Capital
of Design in 2014.
Fifty-six cities from 24 countries vied for the chance to become World Design Capital 2014.
Although Cape Town was ultimately designated as
WDC, the institutions involved in the initiative
consider the campaign highly successful since Bilbao was among the three cities shortlisted for the
final selection.
They are also aware of the fact that as a result of
preparing Bilbao's candidature for WDC 2014 a
number of activities were defined and set in
motion in Bilbao, Bizkaia and other parts of the
Basque Country, ushering in a new era for design
and creative economy.
In this regard, the organisations responsible for
the Bilbao candidature uphold their commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the propo-
sed activities. The activities fall into three major
areas:
•
•
•
Art + Technology
Urban solutions + Ecotechnology
Tourism, Health + Well-Being.
The spectacular urban revitalisation of Bilbao over
the past few decades has been a long journey, an
experience that will further strengthen the commitment to make design a vital element for the
economic development of the Basque Country.
23
24
BILBAO BIZKAIA OPEN MIND, THE
BEST WAY TO GET TO KNOW US
S
ince its origins in Bilbao has been a
city with a great industrial tradition
. However at the end of the 20th
century the iron and steel
industry experienced a dramatic
slump, forcing the city to rethink
the basics of its economic development. This
uncertainty was captured by Juan Carlos Salaverri
in an article published in 1988 by journalist Juan
Carlos Salaverri in 'Ajoblanco' magazine, a leading cultural reference of the time, entitked 'Is Bilbao Moving?' The article closed with the question:
'Is Bilbao moving or dying?' Twenty years later, we
know the answer.
The institutions of Biskaia made a commitment to
transformation, making Bilbao an example of
urban regeneration and a benchmark for the rest
of the world. Bilbao has regained its dynamism by
becoming a city of services and embracing environmental and urban recovery.
Former industrial land along the banks of the river
has been transformed into new modern spaces for
the enjoyment of residents and visitors.
atre and shows, an opera season, countless art
galleries, world-renowned museums, trade fairs
and congress centres. In Bilbao visitors will find
major fashion labels:
This spectacular change has transformed Bilbao
into an essential point of reference in the European panorama.
•Carolina Herrera, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Loewe,
etc. •Along side the European designers, with
Basque fashion playing a leading role through
brands such as Mercedes de Miguel, Alicia Rueda,
Ion Fiz, Skunkfunk, Loreak Mendian and Mirian
Ocariz.
Today the capital of Bizkaia is an international
symbol of dynamism and creative diversity, a a
meeting place for all who are interested in architecture, design, gastronomy, leisure pursuits and
culture. Nowadays, the Greater Bilbao area
offers broad-ranging proposals including film, the-
Gastronomy is another highlight in Bizkaia and
Bilbao, with many illustrious restaurants serving
contemporary cuisine and also cosy local establishments offering up the finest of Basque fare. Bilbao is a city that looks to the future, its buildings
reflecting its unstoppable transformation, some
designed by prestigious architects such as Norman Foster, Cesar Pelli, Rafael Moneo, Santiago
Calatrava, Frank O. Ghery, Zaha Hadid and Arata
Isozaki, but it is a city that never forgets where
its true heart resides: on the streets of its old
quarter. However, Bizkaia is much more than just
Bilbao.
Visitors who come drawn by the lure of modern,
cosmopolitan Bilbao will also discover Biscay, a
privileged region filled with natural landscapes and idyllic beaches. In less than half an hour,
thanks to a modern public transport network, you
can visit enchanting coastal towns or delve into
rural Biscay and its natural parks and marvellous
enclaves, with its green hills and the hospitality
of its inhabitants keeping you company on your
travels.
25
THE NEW MERCADO
DE LA RIBERA, A MUST-SEE
M
arkets are always a great
place to start when visiting
a city for the first time.
This is where you can see
locals going about their
daily business of shopping
and discover the kinds of foods they buy, the different stalls on display, how the products are presented and the variety and quality of locallygrown produce.
The recently refurbished Mercado de la Ribera,
located on the banks of the Bilbao estuary, is a
point of reference throughout Bizkaia, combining
the old and the new under one roof. It is well
worth a visit.
The refurbished market is a modern space adapted to today’s needs, with all of the comforts and
convenience for both merchants and shoppers alike. The market houses 59 stalls, the same number
as the original design. But the layout has undergone a significant change.
The same types of products are no longer all
found on the same floor. Instead, each floor is
divided into different areas, which allows shoppers to find fish, meat, fruits and vegetables, delicatessen items and so on all on the same level.
HISTORY
OF THE MARKET
In the 14th century Bilbao's market was established
next to the church of San Antón in the main square,
considered the nerve centre of the town.
In the words of Emiliano de Arriaga, known for
his 1896 lexicon of popular Bilbao terminology, the
market offered 'an excellent variety of products that
would please the palate of even the most discerning
gastronomer.' By 1870 a roof covered all of the market stalls to provide them shelter from the weather.
26
THE POWER AND INFLUENCE
OF SPORT IN BIZKAIA
F
or Bilbainos and Vizcaínos the Athletic Club de Bilbao represents much
more than a football club; it is the
symbol of their collective spirit, what
sets them apart from others. In essence it is a long-standing source of
intense, shared emotion.
The Bilbainos took up the sport with great gusto over
one hundred years ago when it was brought here by
English engineers who came to Bilbao to work at the
famous Altos Hornos de Bizkaia ironworks. Today,
football is still tremendously popular with a great number of fans in Bizkaia and beyond who share a unique
understanding, admiration and affection for the game.
Their centenary club still stands by the principle of selecting young players who have come up through the ranks
to play on their first division team, often putting the
value of hard work and effort ahead of potential victories
that could be won by signing expensive players from
other clubs. Despite this policy, the Athletic Club de Bilbao has enjoyed many moments of glory. Their teams
have won 8 league and 24 cup championships, and players of the calibre of Zarra, Gainza, Iriondo, Iribar, Clemente, Rojo and Guerrero have left an indelible mark on
the history of football.
And since there is more to life than just football, sports
such as basketball have become extremely popular over
the last 10 to 12 years. For many nostalgic fans, the new
Bizkaian basketball team founded in 2000, BilbaoBasket, has filled a void left behind by previous clubs. The
Bilbaobasket supporters regularly fill the magnificent
9,400-seat ‘Bilbao Arena’ stadium, which was finished
in September 2010, fulfilling the fans’ long-held ambition
to have a worthy venue in the city to host tournament
matches. There are also many other sports with equally
loyal and staunch followers. ‘Pelota’ (Basque handball),
rowing regattas and cycling must be given a mention
considering the huge following, tradition and achievements of local sportspeople in these fields. We heartily
recommend that visitors to Bizkaia not miss the chance
to see a live pelota match, whether played with wooden bats (‘pala’), bare hands (‘mano’) or a curved leather
basket-like glove (‘remonte’). Whatever your choice, the
power and speed of this sport, coupled with the excitement of the crowd, are well worth the experience.
If you have the chance to watch a game at the recently
inaugurated Frontón de Bizkaia, located in the modern
Miribilla district of Bilbao, you’ll be able to see some of
the recent innovations to this deep-rooted Basque sport:
instead of the traditional green, the court is now black
and grey. Closely associated with the tradition of the
arrantzales (fishermen), many rowing regattas are held
throughout the summer months along the entire coast of
Bizkaia. Each rowing boat represents a coastal town and
each boat and its oarsmen sport a particular colour,
which is also worn by the supporting spectators. Every
competition is a very colourful event indeed with each
team and followers readily identifiable. Cycling has provided numerous memorable and joyous moments in Basque sporting history. There are many cyclists, cycling
teams and races. There are also many young cycling professionals in training here, and the number of wellknown local cyclists who have made it professionally is
testimony to this. There are also many amateur and
recreational cyclists riding on the roads of Bizkaia.
27
BIZKAIA BRIDGE:
SYMBOL OF BASQUE SPIRIT
O
n 13 July 2006, the UNESCO
Committee declared the Bizkaia
Bridge a World Heritage Site.
With this recognition, the bridge
spanning the river Nervión became the first World Heritage Site
in the Basque Country, and the first Industrial
Heritage Site in Spain.
Known by Vizcainos as the 'Hanging Bridge of
Portugalete', a name consecrated in a popular
song, the bridge was described by UNESCO as 'a
spectacular and aesthetically pleasant addition to
the river estuary and an exceptional expression of
technical creativity reflecting a completely satisfactory relationship between form and function.'
The Bizkaia Bridge, or Puente Bizkaia, is considered
one of the greatest monuments of the Industrial
Revolution and one of the few surviving representatives of that period. During the latter half of the 19th
century iron was considered the most powerful
symbol of progress. Iron and steel were used to
build machines, ships, railways, and towers (such as
the Eiffel Tower), as well as the massive halls of
the Universal Expos and, above all, the increasingly
slender and audacious new bridges in Europe and
America.
At the end of the 19th century, the Bilbao estuary
was experiencing the Industrial Revolution as a
period of extraordinary economic activity linked to
the mass export of a rich seam of iron ore over 25
kilometres long in the Bizkaia mines.
From the very beginning the Bizkaia Bridge was considered the triumphal arch of the burgeoning industrial civilisation. It was the world’s first metal-structured transporter bridge, and is located at the mouth
of the river Ibaizabal, where Bilbao's navigable
estuary flows into the sea. The Bizkaia Bridge was
inaugurated on 28 July 1893, designed to connect
the towns of Portugalete and Getxo, one riverbank rocky and steep, the other low and sandy, with
its huge iron bodywork. The bridge greatly facilitated communications between these two summer
seaside resorts without disrupting sailings in and
out of one of busiest river ports in Europe.
The bridge was designed by Alberto Palacio y Elissague, also renowned for his participation in the building of the Crystal Palace in Madrid’s Retiro Park.
French engineer Ferdinand Joseph Arnodin was responsible for the construction of the structure and Bilbao textile impresario Santos López de Letona was
the principal guardian and financier of the project.
Reconstruction work was carried out in 1999 to
improve some of the functional aspects after a century of use. This spectacular living monument is a
surprising piece of construction, in a harmonious
combination of beauty, aesthetics and
practicality.
28
TIME FOR SHARING, TIME
FOR FUN WITH THE FAMILY
F
amily holidays are a great opportunity to spend time together and
build memories for the future. There is a huge variety of activities for
families to enjoy together ranging
from nature to museums and city
life. There is something to suit everyone.
An early morning outing on skates or by bicycle
along the riverbank is a fun way to start the day.
There is an extensive network of cycling lanes,
or bidegorris, as well as a municipal bike rental service. To avail of this service, all you have to do is to
drop into Bilbao Turismo at the Teatro Arriaga and
fill in a form.
After a bit of exercise, a trip to the Maritime
Museum or the Guggenheim Museum is a nice
way to relax. They both offer special workshops to
keep children busy while their parents enjoy a leisurely walk around the museum. The Alhóndiga also
has a special area for children called Txikiland, where they can get involved in different multimedia activities. On the other hand, if they prefer outdoor activities, they can visit the Doña Casilda park
playground. Regeneration of the Nervión River
started 25 years ago and since then the river has
slowly but surely come back to life. As a result,
nowadays a range of recreational and educational
activities are now available. A trip by boat along the
river offers the visitor a new perspective on the city
increased the city’s parkland by one million square
meters; there are now over 20 city parks, complete with benches and children’s play areas.
Access to the natural parks around the city (Artxanda, Monte Avril, Arnotegi, Pagasarri and Arraiz) is
easy and within reach, and they offer excellent
and helps to explain its history. RK Abentura and
Bilbobentura organize activities to suit all tastes:
boats, kayaks and canoes can be hired with or
without a guide. The two outfits also offer activity
camps for children. Back on land, you can further
enjoy nature-related activities on the city’s Anillo
Verde or green circuit. The aim of this ring of green
areas is to join the public forest parklands located
on the hills surrounding the city with the innercity
parks. Just over a decade ago, in 1999, there were
six square metres of green parkland per inhabitant.
Currently, this figure stands at 24 square meters per
person. In 10 short years, the Bilbao Town Hall has
ted. A different and fun way to get to these open
green spaces is to take the Artxanda funicular
railway from the station on Calle Castaños, which
runs parallel to Campo Volantín. On the way up,
visitors can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view
of the city. Since its founding in 1915, the funicular
has had a tumultuous history, and service has had
to be suspended for certain periods of time.
At the very beginning, it was even used for transporting calves. Nowadays, having undergone a complete overhaul, it offers access within minutes to
the wide open space of Monte Artxanda, traditionally one of the city’s favourite spots for family
outings.
views of the city. Over the last few years 18,500
trees have been planted in these parks, most of
which are native to the area, such as birch, indigenous oak, ash and beech, but some foreign species,
e.g. lime and American oak, have also been plan-
www.bilbao.net/anillo verde
www.bilbao.net/funicularartxanda
www.rkabentura.com
www.bilbobentura.com
29
ARTXANDA FUNICULAR RAILWAY
-FAST TRACK TO NATURE
U
ntil cars became commonplace in the second half of
the 20th century, Mount
Artxanda was the most
convenient place for the
people of Bilbao to escape
the city and enjoy the outdoors. The residents
of the "Botxo", the part of the city nestled at
the foot of Artxanda, would look up at the
fields and woods, and make plans to climb up
and enjoy a bit of nature on their next day off.
The 1915 inauguration of the Artxanda funicular railway was a great event for the people
of Bilbao, who could now reach Mount Artxanda in just a few minutes from the Calle Castaños station behind Campo Volantín, near the
town hall.
There they could go for a brisk walk, enjoy a
leisurely meal and a glass of txakoli at one of
the many open-air restaurants in the area, or
visit the former casino. The funicular has had
a tumultuous history, and service has had to
be suspended for certain periods of time. At
the very beginning, it was even used for
transporting calves.
Nowadays, having undergone a complete
overhaul, it offers access within minutes to
the wide open space and fabulous sports facilities of Monte Artxanda, traditionally one of
the city’s favourite spots for family outings.
The funicular railway climbs slowly up the
steep slope between Campo de Volantín and
the station at Mount Artxanda, offering sweeping views of the city and all the way to the
river meets the sea.
ter. The Larreineta funicular, inaugurated in
1926, was originally designed to transport
goods. The two areas were now linked by a
10-minute funicular railway, replacing what
had been an arduous climb up a path that took
over an hour.
With the mines now closed, the Larreineta
funicular is now an enjoyable tourist attraction. The ascent begins at the base of the
Trapagan Valley at La Escontrilla and covers a
distance of 1198 metres to the neighbourhood
of Larreineta.
From the top of Larreineta visitors can enjoy
excellent views of Bilbao, the estuary and the
sea, as well as abandoned mines and scattered farmhouses in the Trapagan Valley. From
the top of the funicular, a track leads to La
Arboleda, 400 metres in elevation, now a
popular recreation area that features the
nearby lagoons of El Negro and Ostión.
LARREINETA
FUNICULAR: MINING
PAST, TOURISM
PRESENT
At the end of the 19th century, large-scale
mining operations in the mountains around
the Trapagaran Valley, where iron had been
mined since Roman times, led to settlements
in the upper part of the valley.
Mining towns sprung up in the upper valley,
while the lower region kept its rural charac-
The tracks of the Larreineta funicular are
peculiar in that they take a sharp right-hand
turn before reaching the top.
BASQUE RAILWAY
MUSEUM: A TRAIN RIDE
THROUGH HISTORY
FROM AZPEITIA
The Basque Railway Museum opened in
Azpeitia, Gipuzkoa in 1993. The museum, one
of the best of its kind, offers fascinating
insight into the history of the railroad in the
Basque Country, from the first steam engines
during the Industrial Revolution, to the
modern-day tramway. Visitors can also see the
repair shop, at one time a cutting-edge railway workshop, and now in full operation again
thanks to the collaboration of technicians from
the Elgoibar Machine Tool Museum.
The Railway Museum also houses one of the
best collections of railway clocks in Europe,
and a display of railway workers' uniforms
dating since the late 19th century.
But perhaps the most exciting thing at the
Basque Railway Museum is that from Tuesday
to Sunday during the months of July and
August, and every weekend until November,
visitors can take a ride on a vintage train with
wooden seats and open-air platforms to the
station in Lasao. Let the sound of the steam
engine and the clankety-clank of the cars take
you back to bygone days.
www.euskotren.es
CONVENTION BUREAU
CONFERENCES & TRADE SHOWS:
DESTINATION BILBAO
WHEN BUSINESS TRAVEL IS A PLEASURE
A
Architecture, design, transformation, culture, economic activity...
All of these ingredients have turned Bilbao into an avant-garde
city and a major destination for
both business travellers and tourists. Bilbao has also become a leading destination
for international conferences and trade fairs.
Throughout the second half of the 20th century, the
Basque Country's prominent position in the industrial ranking, especially when it came to industrial
enterprises on the left bank of the river Nervión,
spurred the development of trade fairs in Bilbao.
Today the process of urban renewal has provided
Bilbao and its metropolitan area with new cuttingedge installations that have pumped new life into
the city.
In fact, the Euskalduna Conference Centre and
Concert Hall won the 2003 Apex Award for the
'World's Best Convention Centre'.
conferences and festivals. The department has a
team of skilled professionals and all of the infrastructure needed to advertise and promote all types
of events in the city. The Bureau provides the following types of support for organisations interested in
hosting their events in Bilbao:
•Technical support in presenting Bilbao as a candidate venue for congresses.
•Institutional contacts.
•Locating meeting venues
•Management services and liasing with firms active in the sector.
•Information on activities for guests of conference
attendees.
•Calendar of cultural and leisure activities in Bilbao
and Bizkaia.
•Tourism materials for event attendees.
A wide range of hotels, modern air and land transport
infrastructure, internationally acclaimed cuisine and a
rich calendar of entertainment and cultural events all
come together to make Bilbao the ideal place to
host a conference or professional event. And if you're
here to attend a trade show or festival, Bilbao invites
you to join in the life and energy of the city.
www.bilbao.net/bilbaoturismo
www.euskalduna.net
www.bilbaoexhibitioncentre.com
Earlier, in 2001, the Euskalduna won the Enric Miralles Architecture Award and in 2003, the National
Award given by the Spanish Association of Congress Centres. The Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC) in
Baracaldo has replaced the old Bilbao fairground, a
venue whose central location suffered from space
restrictions. The BEC has 150,000 m² of exhibition
space distributed over six column-free pavilions.
Flexibility and versatility make the BEC the perfect
venue for organising any type of event. The convention centre, BEC CONVENCIONES, has 118,000 m²
of space distributed over multiple levels. It is a multipurpose space equipped with the most sophisticated communication systems. The complex also
boasts the BIZKAIA ARENA, a multi-purpose hall
that can be adapted to host a wide range of events.
The city also has a special department, the Bilbao
Convention Bureau, charged specifically with providing support for the organisation of trade fairs,
31
BICB@BILBAOTURISMO.BILBAO.NET
ECO-TOURISM
DISCOVER THE NATURAL WONDERS
OF URDAIBAI-BUSTURIALDEA
LESS THAN 45 MINUTES FROM BILBAO
A
picture is worth a thousand
words, as the saying goes, and
at Urdaibai it's more than evident. The Mundaka estuary
sits at the centre of this
exceptional site, declared a
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1984.
Twelve kilometres of sand forms at the mouth
of the River, where freshwater and saltwater
clump together to form the largest wetland in
the Basque Country. The Busturialdea region,
one of Bizkaia's natural treasures, is made up
of 20 municipalities, 12 of which are located
entirely within the boundaries of the reserve:
Mundaka, Sukarrieta, Busturia, Murueta, Forua,
Gernika-Lumo, Ajangiz, Mendata, Arratzu, Kortezubi, Gautegiz Arteaga and Elantxobe. Most
of another two municipalities, Muxika and Ibarrangelu, is included in the reserve, and Bermeo, Nabarniz and Ereño account for over half
of the total acreage.
Gernika-Lumo, a town steeped in history, home
to the Casa de Juntas, the assembly hall where
representatives of the Bizkaian parliament have
met for centuries. Most of the other towns
within the reserve are small villages filled with
history and beautiful natural landscapes.
Arrieta, Errigoiti, Morga, Amorebieta-Etxano
and Munitibar-Arbatzegi-Gerrikaitz occupy just
under a third of the surface area. The Urdaibai
Biosphere Reserve sits in the valley of the
river Oca. The largest centre of population is
Urdaibai is a strategic location for watching
birds as they escape the cold Northern
European winters and take refuge in the warmer conditions of the biosphere wetlands. The
reserve is a rest area and wintering ground for
BIRDWATCHER'S
PARADISE
33
many species of migratory birds not commonly
sited in the Iberian Peninsula – grey heron, cormorant, tern, spoonbill, and a large number of
waders or shorebirds that feed on animals
buried or semi-buried in the sand and mud.
The reserve is an absolute must-see, especially
for birdwatchers. There is a bird observation
deck situated in the San Cristobal neighbourhood of the town of Busturia.
THE MUNDAKA
ESTUARY
The Mundaka estuary is at the heart of the
Urdaibal Biosphere Reserve. The marshlands
offer spectacular scenery at both high and low
tide. Low tide reveals an extensive sandy area
near Laida known as Kanala.
local mountains, with elevations no greater
than 900 metres, are easily accessible and
afford stunning views over Urdaibai.
The area is ideal for a walk along the salt
flats, a swim in the sea, or just sitting back
and enjoying the beauty and wonder of nature.
The panoramic views in the area are spectacular from virtually any point along the estuary.
The Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, with its coastal habitats and inland countryside, is an ideal
combination of nature and culture. The seascapes and salt marshes provide a stunning contrast to the green mountains and hillsides. The
Another must-see in the area is Cape Ogoño,
an impressive limestone outcropping which
provides shelter for the European shag and the
peregrine falcon, and is easily reached via a
well signposted footpath. Below is Laga beach
which, despite its popularity with swimmers and
surfers, still preserves the flora and fauna of the
sandy beach and dune habitat.
www.busturialdeaurdaibai.com
AGRITOURISM: THE ALLURE
OF THE COUNTRYSIDE
M
ore than 20 years ago the
first ‘agrotourism’ establishment to open its doors in
the Basque Country was
Txopebenta, located in the
town of Gautegiz-Arteaga, Bizkaia. Today over 40 farmhouses and
country homes are included in Bizkaia's agrotourism network, offering nearly 500 beds to
visitors who want to experience rural Basque
lifestyle in close contact with nature.
Agrotourism establishments are located on
actual working farms and many of the farmhouses where guests are lodged are splendid
examples of traditional mountain or rural architecture. A number of the properties are nestled
amidst spectacular seaside or mountain scenery, and the farms often have a centuries-old
history of coexistence with the natural surroundings. More than just accommodation, farm and
country houses give visitors the chance to experience a different kind of travel in a warm welcoming atmosphere. Farmhouse hosts open
the doors to their homes allowing guests an
intimate glimpse into local lifestyle and culture.
No one knows than they do about the activities
and highlights of each place, and they're generally delighted to share their knowledge on local
treasures: geography, places of particular
interest, gastronomy, history, and anything
having to do with local customs, art, culture or
archaeology – in other words, everything that
makes Basque culture what it is.
In fact, as farmers generate extra income, many
of the proprietors are encouraged to protect and
preserve the traditional farm tools, implements
and household belongings handed down for centuries, giving insight into what life was like for
our ancestors.
Nekatur, the umbrella group for 85% of the
farm and country houses in the Basque Country,
guarantees the quality of its members by establishing requirements and quality standards for
eligibility and participation in the association.
The Nekatur website, www.nekatur.net, and
Bizkaia agrotourism website, www.agroturismosdebizkaia.com, offer detailed information,
a full list of properties, and booking services.
35
36
GORBEIA CENTRAL PARK:
THE PLEASURES OF NATURE
A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED VISIT ONLY 40 MIN FROM BILBAO
G
ORBEIA CENTRAL PARK will
tickle the fancy of outdoor
enthusiasts who enjoy the simple pleasures of nature. The green mountains, peaceful woods
and spectacular scenery are
what make this place so special.
Fully aware of this natural treasure, the rural development association of the Gorbeia region and
authorities from the Zuia region of Alava have
drawn up a tourism plan in line with today's trends.
Taking into account the park’s unique features, the
plan includes a tourism offer aimed at visitors
looking for something different like stargazing,
trying one's hand at sheepherding for a day, or a
workshop in traditional medicine.
The choice of experiences offered at Gorbeia Central Park is designed for people who want to enjoy
tourism without the crowds, people wishing to
experience the real atmosphere and feel of the place, with its traditions, festivities and customs. The
parklands of Gorbeia encompasses Bizkaia’s Gorbeialdea region and the ‘Cuadrilla de Zuia’ in Alava,
two areas sharing two mountain ranges – Gorbeia
and Urkiola, both declared 'natural parks' for
their unusual beauty and wild landscapes. Both places are well worth a visit, and the perfect alternative for nature lovers and enthusiasts of outdoor
activities.
A mountain lovers' paradise. Visitors can climb the
high peaks of Gorbeia Central Park, walk through its
lush forests and valleys, and discover a number of
simply 'delicious' nooks and crannies. The area's
new tourism strategy promotes Gorbeia as a meeting point, the 'Central Park' of Euskadi – open
24 hours a day.
24 HOURS
In addition to pure air and lush scenery, you'll also
find countless gastronomic, entertainment and outdoor sport activities. After a long walk through the
woods and green meadows, get a good night's sleep at one of the many traditional farmhouses and
country homes located near Gorbeia Central Park.
Start another day of adventure with a hearty traditional farmhouse breakfast prepared from fresh
local products.
If you're seeking a quiet place to relax far from the
hustle and bustle of the city, you can also experience the comforts and conveniences of a 3- or 4-star
hotel. Wherever you stay, you're sure to enjoy the
solitude of nature.
Tradition is also highly valued at Gorbeia Park.
Learn about the lifestyle and deep-rooted traditions
of the Basque people. Experience their age-old professions, festivities, ceremonies, local gastonomy ...
and the oldest living language in Europe.
37
ANBOTO:
A MOUNTAIN OF LEGEND
LESS THAN 40 MINUTES FROM BILBAO
A
nboto is a mountain steeped in Basque folklore and
legend, its impressive grey
limestone summit rising like
a giant more than 1300 m
above sea level.
This legendary mountain is part of Urkiola
Natural Park, which forms a natural border
between Bizkaia and Alava.
Submerged beneath the sea in past geological
ages, Anboto's limestone layers reveal fossils
found deep in the rock.
There are trails to the top of the mountain for
every type of hiker, with trail heads located on
all sides of the mountain. One possible route
starts mid-slope at the Santuario de Urkiola,
at an elevation of 750 metres. The most
demanding routes begin from the valley of
Arrazola, and require a climb of over 1000
metres.
Several other routes leave from the spectacular and magical Atxondo valley, and from the
Aramaio valley in Alava.
Visitors not quite up to the challenge can still
enjoy the unparalleled beauty of the area,
opting instead for a more relaxing walk
along one of the many signposted trails in
the valleys below.
And it goes without saying that everyone can
enjoy the local cuisine served in numerous
restaurants in the area.
Favourite local dishes include milk-fed
lamb, known locally as arkume, and gatzatua,
the natural junket-like dessert made from the
milk of sheep grazing in mountain pastures on
the slopes of Anboto. A number of excursions
also start at Urkiola pass (Alto de Urkioloa),
and on snowy winter days the gentle slopes
become a favourite for sledders.
And while you're here, be sure to visit the
sanctuary where every year on the feast day of
San Antón, the local stock-owners bring their
animals to be blessed.
Anboto is also home to Mari, the Lady of
Anboto, who lives in a cave called Mariurrika
perched in the rock wall 1000 metres up.
Legend has it that on bright sunny days you
can see Mari combing her thick blond hair with
a gold comb. At other times she can be seen
as a burst of fire moving suddenly from Mariurrika over the rocks to her other cave dwellings scattered throughout the mountains of
Euskal Herria.
38
THE SOURCE OF THE NERVIÓN
RIVER, SIMPLY SPECTACULAR
50 MINUTES FROM BILBAO
T
he Nervión river is the largest and
most well-known river in Bizkaia. It
is famous for its estuary, which
flows from the city of Bilbao out to
the Bay of Biscay. The Nervión
estuary has played a key role in
Bilbao’s history and in the industrial and social
evolution of the city in recent times. However, the
river’s headwaters could not be more different
from the waters at its mouth.
It’s true that by the time the river reaches the sea,
its waters have been somewhat mistreated (albeit
less so in recent years) along the way by effluent
from nearby towns and industries. However, at its
source, it is free-flowing and crystal clear. The
source of the Nervión starts as a spring which
emerges in a forest of beech trees in the Gibijo
mountain range near Orduña pass. It rushes
through the Delika gorge and on through the province of Bizkaia in search of the sea.
The river forms a spectacular 270-meter high
waterfall during the months of heavy rainfall, as it
plummets over the enormous limestone wall of the
Gibijo mountain range. The waterfall can be admired from the Mirador del Nervión viewing point
built at Orduña pass. While the waterfall tends to
dry up over the summer months, leaving a trickling
stream that is sometimes hardly visible, the area
surrounding the Salto del Nervión waterfall is so
beautiful that it is still well worth a visit.
Those who wish to explore the Delika gorge further can take the 7km walk (full circuit - there and
back) from Delika along the bottom of the gorge
through oak and beech trees. The steep rock walls
of the gorge are inhabited by a large colony of
birds of prey, most noteworthy of which is the Griffin Vulture (Gyps fulvus). In times gone by there
used to be a lot of wolves in this mountainous
region, but with the spread of sheep-farming, the
wolves were hunted and killed until they became
virtually extinct. In fact, there are four wolf traps
on Monte Santiago consisting of 2 two-meterhigh stone walls which converge at the bottom creating a deep well-like hole.
HOW TO GET TO THE
NERVIÓN VIEWING
POINT
Take the A 625 from Orduña in the direction of
Miranda del Ebro up to the Orduña mountain
pass (alt. 900m) and follow the directions along the
mountain track. This can be used by cars. About 3
kms along this road there is a car park and a short
path which leads up to the impressive overlook.
The Nervión viewing point is perched on the very
edge of the top of the rock-face, offering the visitor
a vertigo-inducing view down the 300m to the bottom of the Delika gorge. Visitors can watch the
thin stream of the waterfall as it plunges down
and finally disappears into the darkness of the bottom of the ravine.
ACCESS ROUTES
Our point of departure is the town of Delika in the
municipality of Amurrio, Alava. To reach Delika we
must first go to Orduña, the only town in Bizkaia to
be granted ‘city’ status in the Middle Ages.
This is because Orduña was a strategically important commercial enclave, since goods from Castile
(mostly wool) had to pass through the city on their
way to Northern Europe. Orduña is 38 kilometres
from Bilbao. To get there, take the A-8 motorway,
direction San Sebastian (through the Malmasín
tunnel), and take the first exit marked Arrigorriaga.
Drive through Arrigorriaga and continue along the
BI625 through Miraballes, Arrankudiaga, and past
Llodio and Amurrio, continuing straight on to
Orduña.
39
Continue driving through Orduña following the
signs to Vitoria until you reach a crossroads. Turn
left and carry on for three kilometres to Delika. Drive through the town and after passing under a railway bridge you’ll come to an open-air car park next
to a bar and restaurant. This is where the
excursion starts.
ITINERARY
The route sets off from the car park in Delika. Wal-
kers should take the path that goes off to the right
from the bar and runs parallel to the river. After a
five-minute walk, climb over the stile and then turn
left onto a fairly wide path.
The path runs along the river for the entire walk
and is easy to follow. All you need to do is to head
up the gorge and follow the river, crossing it when
necessary. There should be no difficulty unless there is a lot of fast-flowing water in the river. Once
you reach the end of the gorge and are standing
facing the waterfall, you can get closer to its base
by scrambling over the rocks in the riverbed.
The entire walk takes about four hours. This
spectacular excursion is best enjoyed in late winter
or early spring when the waterfall is in full force.
This walk can be done with children as it is not difficult. You can stop and rest along the way and
take in the wonderful views.
FORESTS AND WOODS,
A NATURAL TREASURE
ALL LESS THAN A 45 MINUTE DRIVE FROM THE CENTRE OF BILBAO
The best way to approach the forest is from the
cave of Santimamiñe, the most significant archaeological site in Bizkaia. Inside the cavern are Upper
Palaeolithic cave paintings and remains dating to
the Magdalenian period (14,000 to 9,000 B.C.).
From here a dirt track will take you to a forest of
Monterrey pines on which Ibarrola painted brightly
coloured human, animal, and geometric figures that
line up and take different forms as you walk through
the forest.
O
ne of Bizkaia's greatest
attractions is the rich variety of
protected public lands and spectacular scenery – from lush green meadows to dense beech
and oak forests. In fact, with
two-thirds of the land covered in forest, a walk
through any of the wooded areas is food for the
soul. There are two very special places in Bizkaia where visitors will enjoy a unique magical
experience.
Between Gernika and Lekeitio, in the Urdaibai
Nature Reserve, is the Forest of Oma in the municipality of Kortezubi. This 'enchanted forest’, created by Basque artist Agustín Ibarrola, is a fantasy
world where nature and art go hand in hand and
where the perspective of the visitor is key.
Ibarrola's project was part of a trend known as Land
Art, a movement that emerged in the late 1960s, in
which artists used nature as their form of expression, their canvas, their frame and their work materials. Other places of interest in the vicinity of the
enchanted forest are the 16th-century chapel of San
Mamés, opposite the cave, the Olakoerrota mill,
once part of an ironworks operation, and the Goikolea mill. More energetic visitors might want to
continue walking to the chapel atop Mount Ereñozar
and take in the spectacular views of the Urdaibai
Nature Reserve.
Also highly recommended are two protected areas:
Ranero Betayo and Sierra Salvada.
In the northeast corner of Bizkaia bordering Cantabria is the incredibly scenic area of Las Encartaciones. In the westernmost corner of Las Encartaciones is the Karrantza Valley, well worth a visit for
its beautiful natural setting. The 20-hectare Karpin
Abentura Eco-park gives visitors the chance to
see wild animals native to the Iberian Peninsula and
Europe living in enclosures that resemble their natural habitats.
www.karpinabentura.com
41
COAST OF BIZKAIA
42
SAN JUAN DE GAZTELUGATXE...
AN ISLAND WITH A VIEW
E
ast of Bakio in the municipal
limits of Bermeo, the island of
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe affords
visitors spectacular views of the
Bay of Biscay. San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and its equally beautiful neighbouring island, Aketze, are part of protected biotope which extends from Bakio to Cape
Matxitxako.
Perched atop Gaztelugatxe is the tiny chapel of San
Juan, the origins of which date back to the 10th
century. Visitors can reach this miraculously built
church by zigzaging up 231 steps carved into the
stone. The climb is well worth the effort – there's
nothing quite like looking out into the horizon and
gazing at the gorgeous seascape around you.
The island is a strategic lookout point which dominates a large stretch of the coastline. Over the
course of history it has been witness to historical
events and legends.
Historic documents tell us that the first building
that stood atop the island was erected in the 10th
century. In 1053, Don Iñigo López, Lord of Bizkaia,
donated the small hermitage to the monastery of
San Juan de la Peña in Huesca. In 1593 the hermitage was sacked by British buccaneer Francis Drake.
It later caught fire and was totally destroyed. The
chapel we see standing today was built in 1980.
TRADITIONS
Following a long-standing tradition, locals climb the
231 steps to the chapel, ring the church bell three
times and make a wish.
Legend also has it that ringing the bell will frighten
away evil spirits.
Another seafaring tradition linked to San Juan de
Gaztelugatxe is that when fishermen set out from
Bermeo, they turn port and then starboard so that
Saint John (San Juan) will bring them good luck.
Various healing powers are also attributed to the
island. For most visitors, however, the island of Gaztelugatxe is simply a beautiful spot with spectacular
panoramic views. To reach the island, visitors
should take the road between Bakio and Bermeo
and leave their car in the small parking facility.
From there a paved path leads to the area where
the climb begins.
Another option is to leave your car next to a restaurant called Eneperi in the town of Bakio and follow
a footpath to the site. In either case, comfortable
footwear is highly recommended.
43
GETTING THERE
From Bilbao: Take the BI-631 in the direction of
Mungia. At the last roundabout follow the signs for
Bakio. In Bakio, take the Bermeo road. In 3 km you'll
find two overlooks on the left-hand side. San Juan
de Gaztelugatxe is well signposted along the route.
Estimated travel time from Bilbao: 45 minutes
44
SAND AND SURF
AT THE BEACHES OF BIZKAIA
YOU CAN REACH PLENTZIA BEACH BY METRO
Getxo. . All of these beaches offer full facilities: Las Arenas (Las Arenas), Ereaga (26) (Algorta), Arrigunaga (25)
(Algorta), Gorrondatxe-Aizkorri (24) (Andra Mari), BarinatxeLa Salvaje (Andra Mari).
Sopelana. Barinatxe (23) aka 'La Salvaje'. Every year in
mid-July quite an original nude race takes place on this
beach.
Arrietera-Atxabiribil (22). The swells at this beach are
good for surfing and bodyboarding.
Meñakoz (21). Isolated beach with no buildings and its
own special charm. Often used as a nudist beach.
Gorliz y Plentzia. Lage attractive bay shared by the
THE BEACH BY
METRO
towns of Gorliz (17) Plentzia (18).
Bakio. The beaches of Armintza (16) and Bakio (15) are
separated by a stretch of wild coastline. Bakio is the most
extensive beach in Bizkaia, 1 km.
There aren't many places in the world where you
can go to the beach by metro. Surf enthusiasts in
Bizkaia can: From the centre of Bilbao, the Metro
goes all the way to Plentzia beach.
Bermeo. Aritzatxu (14) . Beautiful small cove, difficult
access. Mundaka. Beaches located in the river mouth.
www.metrobilbao.net
Lekeitio. Isuntza (ISO 9000 & 14000), Karraspio (2) and
Salvaje (the latter two beaches belong to the town of
Mendexa), next to the island of San Nicolás.
Zierbena. La Arena (28). This beach has recreational facilities for visitors of all ages.
Ondarroa. Arrigorri (1) and Saturrarán, the latter located
between Ondarroa and Mutriku.
Other beaches: Isuntza, Ogella, Ea, Laga, Laida, Kanala,
Kanalape, San Antonio, Toña, Laidatxu, Hondartzape,
Muriola, Barrika and Areeta.
MUNDAKA BOASTS THE
WORLD'S LONGEST
LEFT-HAND WAVE
Surfing is attracting more adepts every day, people
chasing the adrenaline rush only a surfer can describe. There are a number of surfing schools for anyone who wants to learn.
And for well-versed surfers the coast of Bizkaia
offers some of the best waves on the north coast.
Sopelana, Bakio and Zierbena are prime surfing
beaches. But Mundaka, with its world-class lefthand wave, the longest in the world, is a must for
both surfers and spectators alike.
45
CRUISE SHIP TOURISM,
ON THE RISE
A
t the Port of Bilbao the most
impressive cruise ships
include the 294-metre Queen
Victoria operated by the
Cunard Line, the 294-metre
MSC Poesia, and the 290metre cruise liners from P&O Cruises, the Ventura and the Azura.
FERRY
TO PORTSMOUTH
The Cap Finistère is a 204 metre ferry built in
2001 and operated by Brittany Ferries.
Currently, the ferry sails twice a week from
Portsmouth to Bilbao and back. Once a week it
includes a stopover at the French port of Roscoff.
The Cap Finistère bolsters the connection between Bilbao and the south of the UK, reducing
the sailing time by three hours, while providing superior passenger comfort and greater
capacity for trucks and tractor trailers. The
new ferry docks at Pier A3 in the port extension, near the beginning of the Zierbena jetty.
NEW PASSENGER
TERMINAL
The Bilbao Port Authority has built a new passenger terminal in the port of Bilbao to provide
better service to cruise ship passengers.
The terminal, which has been in operation since September 2010, has a check-in area, waiting lounge, baggage drop-off and collection
depots, rest rooms and a tourist office.
EU1.9m was invested in this project.
A GROWING
INDUSTRY
Despite the economic crisis, the industry continues to grow. In 2012, the Bilbao Port Authority reported that 50 cruise ships carrying
65,953 passengers had docked in Bilbao.
In 2005, the figure stood at 21 cruise liners,
and a total of 13,300 passengers; the following year, the figure rose to 22 liners with
16,600 passengers aboard; in 2007, the number of major cruise liners was 21, carrying
23,000 people on board; in 2008, 38 transatlantic liners set anchor at the port of Bilbao,
carrying 37,000 passengers; in 2009, the figure
stood at 30, carrying 30,000 tourists; in 2010,
the number grew to 33 and 43,400 passengers;
2011 was a record year, with 53 cruise liners
carrying 77,000 passengers. This was a landmark figure for the port of Bilbao, which had
never before experienced such huge numbers.
46
FISHING PORTS,
TOWNS WITH CHARACTER
T
he Basque people have been linked to the sea and seafaring activities since time immemorial. Euskadi has been the birthplace of
great sailors whose names and
deeds have marked the course of
history.
Fishing also has a very long history in the Basque
Country, coupled with the important role local shipbuilding played in the Middle Ages. Many of the
major advances in marine technology can be attributed to Basque shipbuilders, paving the way for
transatlantic feats and the development of trade
with 'the Indies'.
Documentation shows that as far back as the 13th
century fishermen's guilds were already in existence. Much like today, the guilds were set up to regulate fishing activities, trade and working conditions
for their members.
Both then and now, guild members are shipowners
and other people working in the fishing industry
who join together to establish norms and protect
industry interests. Over the centuries ports and
towns have emerged up and down the coast of Bizkaia in the natural estuaries, mouths of the rivers,
and the protected coves nestled in the rocky shoreline.
Until very recently, the people of these communities
have thrived on the bounties of the sea.
Some of the smaller fishing ports, such as Zierbena, Plentzia, Armintza and Mundaka, home to
wooden shallops and shallow-water vessels, Lekeitio, Ondarroa and Bermeo, where larger tuna boats
dock, still have all the flavour and character of their
seafaring past. Long gone are the days when Bas-
que sailors plied the waters of Newfoundland in
search of whales. Today Bizkaia's 150-vessel fishing fleet – 104 shallow-water boats, 24 deep-sea
vessels and 25 tuna boats – keep the fishing
industry alive, and the ports full of colour and
charm.
It goes without saying that one of the attractions of
Basque fishing villages is the wealth of products
from the sea, intertwined with a rich gastronomic tradition.
Grill houses and restaurants offer the best selection
of local seafood, directly from the sea to the plate.
47
MARINAS,
HARBOURING PASSION
A
ll along the 80 kilometres of
Bizkaia's coastline, in broad
estuaries and sandy cove at
the base of the cliffs, are a
series of harbours and fishing villages that for centuries have provided shelter for the many Basque ships and legendary sailors. It's no
wonder that this tradition, once reserved for
professional mariners, has given rise to a range of water activities and entertainment.
Every year, 200 new recreational vessels are
registered in Bizkaia.
Many of the ports that in past centuries harboured only merchant ships and fishing vessels are now home to sailboats and other
recreational craft.
Today, 12 ports and marinas between Zierbena and Ondarroa offer more than 3000 boat
slips for recreational vessels. People who
enjoy sailing or angling will find a place to
moor their boat in villages with a long seafaring history – Lekeitio, Ea, Elantxobe, Mundaka, Armintza, Plentzia and Bermeo – or at the
docks of the Real Club Marítimo in Getxo,
Abra, Arriluze, Santurtzi and Zierbena.
49
TIME FOR REST
AND RESTORATION
T
aking time out to rest and restore
our health is the best way to recover from the relentless pace of
everyday living. Indeed, the old
adage Mens Sana in Corpore Sano
applies now more than ever.
and rheumatism sufferers, therapies to help with
stress, insomnia, sluggishness and back ailments,
and rehabilitation and beauty treatments.
refurbished and equipped with the latest technology. The town has a rich historical heritage and
beautiful natural surroundings.
Facilities include a heated swimming pool, hot tubs,
waterfall jet, jacuzzi, sub-aquatic jets, horizontal
jets, high-pressure shower and circular shower.
Nearby is the headwaters of the Nervión river,
with its 250m-high Delika waterfall which can be
observed from the viewing point built on Orduña
pass.
The Orduña spa waters, emerging from the spring
in the vicinity of La Muera Arbieto, are particularly recommended for the treatment of rheumatic
disorders and joint pain.
Situated 50 km from Bilbao in the beautiful coastal
town of Lekeitio is the Emperatriz Zita Spa Hotel,
built on the site of the Uribarren ancestral home,
once residence to the last Empress of the AustroHungarian Empire.
Here you will be pampered and restored in a wonderful fishing-town setting. Overlooking the beach
next to the gothic church in the centre of Lekeitio,
the spa offers specialized treatments for arthritis
The spa offers seaweed and mud wraps as well as
saunas, massages, yoga sessions, and wine, chocolate and relaxation therapy, among others.
Travelling 47kms inland from Bilbao is the Orduña
Spa Hotel. The imposing 18th century building
used to be a Customs post where wool merchants
en route to ports on the Cantabrian seaboard
would pay their dues. The outer structure of this
18th century neoclassical building remains intact
while the interior of building has been completely
People regularly take the waters to prevent anaemia and respiratory illnesses, improve blood circulation, and soothe skin conditions such as psoriasis and acne. But for those who need to relax
and enjoy the dolce far niente without leaving
the city, there are also a wide range of city spas
on offer in Bilbao.
www.casavicentepallotti.com
www.aisiahoteles.com/derio
www.aisiahoteles.com/orduna
www.aisiahoteles.com/lekeitio
www.balnearioareatza.com
HISTORICAL BIZKAIA
50
PLACES WHERE HISTORY
WAS MADE
E
very street corner, town and square
has a story to tell, its history the
chronicle of bygone events and happenings, sometimes solemn and
unique, sometimes commonplace.
We are well aware that there is not
enough space here to adequately describe all of the
historical towns in Bizkaia, many of which are
equally worthy of mention. However, we have selected a particular choice of destinations which for one
reason or another are of particular importance in the
history of Bizkaia.
Eufemia, the Neoclassical church of Santa María, the
Town Hall, the town’s medieval streets, the Ercilla
tower and part of the original town walls.
If we head inland from Gernika-Lumo, we’ll come
across the town of Durango, built on the site of a
previous settlement called Tabira. The surrounding
Durango valley and the town itself belonged to the
Kingdom of Navarre until the 13th century. It was then
annexed to the Kingdom of Castile for 12 years until
1212, when it became part of the Señorío of Bizkaia.
As well as the wonderful palatial mansions such as
the Zabala, Etxezarreta or Garai ancestral homes, visi-
Obviously, we have to start off with a visit to Gernika-Lumo, the town in Bizkaia which has possibly had
the greatest historical impact internationally. The
valley of Gernika has been inhabited by man since
prehistoric times, as attested by the beautifully preserved cave drawings in Santimamiñe.
tors can see the 15th-century Kurutziaga cross. The
Gothic style cross is the only one of its kind in Europe,
erected in memory of the act of heresy committed by
Friar Alonso de Mella. Mt Amboto together with
Urkiola park help to make this area unforgettable. If
we carry on through the valley as far as the border
with Gipuzkoa, we come across Elorrio, which today
encompasses the original 13th-century town and the
parish of San Agustín de Etxebarria.
The caves were inhabited as far back as the Magdalenian period, 15,000 years B.C. However, it is the
Assembly House (Casa de Juntas) and the symbolic
tree of Gernika, around which the representatives of
the towns or parishes would traditionally assemble to
make the laws governing Bizkaia. Destruction of this
symbolic place was the main objective of the massive
air-raid attack on Gernika-Lumo during the Spanish
Civil War, an event that would thrust the town into
the international spotlight.
If we head out towards the sea, on the headland on
the left bank of the Gernika estuary is the town of Bermeo. Founded in 1236, Bermeo was the capital of Bizkaia from 1476 to 1602, when it was the most important town in the seigniory, or señorío, in close
competition with Bilbao. The fact that the king and
queen would come to make vows in the church of
Santa Eufemia whenever they were in Bizkaia gives
us an idea of the importance of the town at the time.
Nowadays, Bermeo is primarily a fishing town but
still takes great pride in its rich historical heritage.
Today, visitors can enjoy a variety of interesting sites
and buildings such as the Gothic church of Santa
As is common elsewhere in the Basque region, the
remains of pre-Neolithic settlements have been found
in the area. A collection of tombstones discovered on
the outskirts of the town is the pre-Christian Argañeta
burial site. The townspeople of Elorrio were actively
involved in trade with the New World and the gains
of this successful and lucrative pursuit are visible to
this day in the over 20 imposing mansions and ancestral homes along its streets. Continuing inland in a
westerly direction is the town of Balmaseda, located
in a region known as Las Encartaciones. Balmaseda
was the first town to be awarded the status of villa in
Bizkaia and is the entry point into the Basque Country
from Castilla y Leon. Balmaseda’s strategic location, and the fact that it had an old Roman road, led
to the development of important trade routes.
In fact, it is almost certain that it was John the II of
Castile who turned it into a ‘dry port’, a place where
taxes were paid inland on goods en route from Castile
to ports on the Cantabrian seaboard. The streets
51
have beautiful palatial mansions such as the Horkasitas or Irrutia ancestral homes as well as the churches
of San Severino and San Juan Bautista.
Another interesting site is the former La Encartada
beret factory, which has been turned into a museum,
and the old bridge, or Puente Viejo.
Quite nearby is the town of Orduña, although it once
belonged to the Señorío of Bizkaia, is actually an
enclave within the province of Alava. The natural protection provided by the mountains made the town an
important defence post for Bizkaia throughout its history.
Like Balmaseda, Orduña was a ‘dry port’ and taxes on
Castilian wool destined for export to Europe were paid to
the Orduña customs until 1841.
Therefore, the original 13th-century villa was granted city
status in the 15th century. The renaissance building that
was once the customs’ house is now a spa hotel and is testimony to the town’s splendorous past. The old part of the
town, which has been declared a historic site, is the largest medieval town centre in Bizkaia and the remains of its
old walls surround a rich monumental heritage.
GERNIKA ASSEMBLY HOUSE
AND EUSKARA
SACRED ICONS OF BASQUE CULTURE
F
or the Basque people the Gernika
Assembly House (Casa de Juntas)
is a sacred symbol of their ancestral culture. The building represents
the earliest form of democracy for
the Basque people, since it was on
this spot, under the canopy of an oak tree, that
representatives of the cities, towns and rural parishes of Bizkaia would meet to discuss matters and
reach agreements affecting the community. It was
also here that they swore before the Lord of Bizkaia, and later before the king of Castile, to uphold
the fueros, a set of special laws and privileges that
were ultimately abolished in 1877.
Earlier there had been two other assembly houses
– Avellaneda, where representatives of the towns
in Las Encartaciones met, and Gerediaga, home to
the Durango area assembly. However, the Gernika
Assembly House has lived on as a symbol of the
democratic values of the Basque people. This was
precisely why Nazi German aircraft targeted Gernika during the Spanish Civil War, the scenes of carnage immortalised in Picasso's famous painting.
Beside the tree of Gernika stood the church of
The Tree of Gernika, the most universal symbol
for the Basque people, stands in a grassy area
adjacent to the building. The lehendakari, or Basque president, takes the oath of office under the
tree.
The tree standing today is actually a descendant
of the 'old tree', its trunk displayed in the garden
to one side of the building. The tree was declared dead in 2004, and in the spring of 2005 was
replaced with one of its own saplings. A number
elsewhere. German linguist and diplomat Wilhelm
Von Humboldt (1767–1835) once said that Euskara was the language that God had given to mankind.
Santa María de la Antigua, where the community leaders would often take refuge during their
gatherings. This is the site on which the Assembly
House we see today was built. The 1833 neoclassical building was designed by architect Antonio de
Echevarria, who created the structure based around
the
old church.
The assembly house stands on a hill, overlooking
views of the Gernika estuary. The site includes the
oath-taking tribune, the tree of Gernika and the
assembly house. Echevarria's plan was to build a
rectangular, symmetrical building with rational proportions. The church and assembly hall would stand
in the centre, and archive rooms would be built in
the wings. A gun room was also included in the original plan but was never built.
Over the centuries Euskara has suffered the vicissitudes of history, including the banning of the
language for years during the Franco dictatorship.
of descendants of the old oak now grow in
various places around the world. The Basque
language, Euskara, known by the Romans as
Linguae Navarrorum, is the other cornerstone of
Basque culture and its very soul. Linguists have
not been able to establish links between this
ancient language and other Indo-European languages, and therefore it is thought to be a preIndo-European survivor. The language has sparked interest over the years both here and
Today, nearly one million people speak the language and half a million more understand it but
have difficulty speaking. Transmitted orally until
relatively recently, the Basque language – spoken
throughout the Basque lands on either side of the
border and in Navarra – has a number of different
dialects. The Royal Academy of the Basque Language, Euskaltzaindia, headquartered in Bilbao's
Plaza Nueva, is the body in charge of preserving
the language and establishing standards of use.
53
GASTRONOMY
54
PINTXO HOPPING
IN BILBAO AND BIZKAIA
B
asque cuisine is undergoing a major transformation
which, beyond the humble
Spanish tortilla, has also
affected the traditional pintxo, as the tapa is known in
the Basque Country. Today the visitor can try
veritable miniature delicacies in most of the
bars in Bizkaia and throughout Euskadi.
A pintxo was traditionally a small slice of
baguette-style bread covered with some sort
of savoury topping. The name pintxo literally
means the little cocktail stick sometimes used
to hold whatever was on top of the bread in
place.
Cold pintxos are normally laid out on the bar
counter for customers to help themselves, while hot pintxos must be ordered as they need to
be heated or prepared by the kitchen staff. The
pintxo has a very important place in Basque
gastronomy, as pintxos are eaten regularly to
accompany a drink before lunch or dinner,
often a small glass of red wine (txikito) or a
half-glass of draught lager (zurito), and sometimes cider or white txakoli wine.
In theory, virtually anything can be put on top
of bread to make a pintxo, but in practice they
generally feature ingredients commonly found
in Basque cooking: fish (such as particular
hake, salt-cod, anchovies and ‘gulas’, an elverlike fish product, etc.) potato omelette, stuffed
peppers and croquettes, among others.
However, there is a new trend spearheaded by
the numerous young Basque chefs coming
out of haute cuisine cookery schools and upmarket restaurants.
These chefs are very keen on creating new,
exciting complex and sophisticated pintxos,
and on offering a never-ending stream of new
ideas, recipes and innovative approaches.
It is becoming clear that traditional fare and
miniature cuisine can live side by side in perfect harmony. The most common practice is
for people to help themselves to the pintxos
on the bar as they stand around with their
friends chatting and having a drink.
55
PINTXO ROUTES
AROUND BILBAO
Bilbao’s Casco Viejo, or old town. The
pedestrian streets in the oldest part of the
city are an open invitation to visitors to
wander around and take in the atmosphere. The bars conveniently located along the
route offer a select range of pintxos to suit
every taste and pocket. Calle Perro, Calle
Santa María and Calle Jardines, the streets around the Plaza Nueva, should not be
missed.
The Abando route is more spread out
than the route through the old town, but it
is closer to the city centre. A visit to Calle
Ledesma is a must and leads onto the
pedestrian street Calle Diputación. From
the classic Bilbao bars found in this area,
we move across the Gran Vía to Plaza
Eguillor, where the pintxo hopping continues.
The route around the area of Indautxu
is another of the city’s most popular pintxo
spots. The bars on Alameda de Urkijo and
Alameda San Mamés are found on the
intersection of the Abando and Indautxu
routes. To get to Indautxu, you can follow
Alameda Urkijo, turn down towards the
Plaza Campuzano and sample the fare in
the bars on Calle Maestro García Rivero.
La Casilla-Amézola is another well-loved
route and one of the most traditional. It
takes in the area surrounding the Casilla
sports pavillion and includes Calle
Zugastinobia which runs behind it.
The route around Deusto. The Deusto
part of town has very much its own personality and lifestyle and indeed its own
area in which to enjoy good company and
a pintxo or two. Don’t miss Calle Blas de
Otero, Calle Rafaela Ibarra, and Calle
Heliodoro de la Torre.
56
TRADITIONAL OR AVANT-GARDE:
GREAT PLACES TO EAT
T
he popularity of Basque cuisine
is neither new nor entirely due to
the number of prestigious international gastronomic awards reaped
by its celebrated chefs. The truth
is that nowadays you can eat well
practically anywhere in the world on any budget.
What makes eating in the Basque Country different, however, is the huge choice of places where
you can eat well in such a relatively small region. It
is truly a gift for the
senses.
Food and gastronomy form part of Bizkaia’s cultural
heritage. Treasured recipes handed down over
generations pay homage to the prized quality of
locally-grown produce and fish handled and prepared with almost reverential care everywhere, from
the humblest household kitchen, to the most
unassuming local tavern, to the finest up-market
restaurant. Indeed, there are restaurants in Bilbao
and in Bizkaia that have been awarded prestigious
Michelin stars, including Andra Mari in Galdakao,
Boroa in Amorebieta, Etxebarri in Atxondo, Azurmendi in Larrabetzu and Etxanobe, Mina, Zortziko and
Nerua in Bilbao.
Alternatively, popular bistro-style restaurants serving wonderful fresh hake in a light batter or charcoal-grilled sea-bream can be found in any town
along the coast. And local cider-houses serve the
most incredible dry-aged beef steaks. In fact, some
of the local dishes such as Bacalao al Pil Pil
(made with salt cod, garlic and olive oil) or Merluza
a la Ondarresa (Ondarroa-style hake) are so popular that they can be found on menus in far-flung
places. But there’s nothing quite like enjoying them
here in the Basque Country.
Among our most distinguished local products is
Txakoli from Bizkaia, a local white wine which
has been made for centuries from indigenous coastal grapes. This white wine is coming back in popularity and marries well with any of the Bizkaian
dishes. It’s also the perfect accompaniment for
pintxos.
And finally since the ideal ending to a good meal is
a good dessert, we must mention some of the Bizkaian cakes and pastries exclusive to the area,
such as the pastel de arroz, a baked ground-rice
tart, bollos de mantequilla, sweet rolls with butter
filling or canutillos de crema, custard-filled puff
pastry cornets.
SLOW FOOD: THE JOY
OF EATING AND LIVING
Faced with the stress and hurry of western-style living, Italian-born Carlo Petrini started up the
Slow Food movement in 1986. Soon many chefs and ordinary people joined the movement and
started calling for the need for a healthy diet of good wholesome food. Three years later the Slow
Food movement became an international non-profit
organization.
Currently it consists of over 850 local chapters called
‘convivia’, with more than 100,000 members in 132
countries. On July 5th, 2005 at the “Guri zer” local club
in Munguía, the Bilbao-Bizkaia Slow Food convivium was set up by a group of people who shared an
interest in the rural environment and a desire to preserve the pleasure of good eating by promoting food culture, defending biodiversity in the food
supply and protecting culinary heritage. With this in mind, they started networking with producers,
launching campaigns to protect traditional foods and encouraging chefs to use local produce and
working with schools to help teach the young about the importance of food and taste.
To counter the lifestyle typified by fast food, the Slow Food movement seeks to defend of the joy of
eating and promote a more meditated and slower pace of life. This is why they place great importance on the pleasure associated with food and eating, and educating the palate. The three main
premises of the Slow Food philosophy can be summed up as follows: the food we eat should taste
GOOD; it should be produced in a CLEAN way without harming the environment, animal welfare or
our health; and the producers should be paid a FAIR price for their goods.
To achieve these aims, the convivia
organize small-scale projects aimed
at providing advice and support for
artisan farmers, be it to form associations, promote their products collectively, or lend them assistance in establishing guidelines for produce
authentication or making investment
decisions.
The Bilbao convivium has undertaken projects to promote Mungía cornbread, the
euskal txerria (an indigenous Basque breed of sheep) and the Zalla red onion. One
of the most noteworthy Slow Food initiatives is the Arca del Gusto, whose aim is to
recover and record tastes from the past
and ultimately rescue quality gastronomic
products in danger of extinction. They are
trying to bring back heirloom produce by
raising awareness about the value of
locally grown food.
57
58
BILBAO PASTRIES,
PERFECT TREATS FOR ANY DAY
A
ll too often when we talk about
the cuisine of a particular place,
we tend to concentrate on
savoury dishes – especially in
Euskadi, where it’s difficult to
ignore the meat, fish, vegetables,
and of course the ubiquitous pintxos.
Although visitors tend not to pay too much attention
to sweets, this is in fact where the locals turn to for
one of life's little pleasures – a treat to help make it
through a hard days' work or to sweeten up a lazy
Sunday afternoon.
CAROLINA
This meringue pastry is both funny.looking and
extremely popular. It is made with a shortcrust
pastry base topped with swirls of fluffy meringue
and decorated down the sides with egg cream and
chocolate. You can be sure that they taste every
bit as good as they look.
PASTEL DE ARROZ
Contrary to its name, not a single grain of rice goes
into making this 'rice pastry'. It is a light shortcrust
pastry tart filled with a cross between egg custard
and crème pâtissière.
Counter at the Arrese pastry shop
The people of Bilbao keep the custom very much alive. Traditional home-made pastries, with about
half a dozen trademark Bilbao specialities, haven't
kowtowed to the onslaught of industrial cakes and
cookies – or to the war on calories.
The city has a long-standing tradition of cafes and
bars, where every day thousands of people take a
break to enjoy a café con leche (made with strong
coffee and concentrated milk) accompanied by one
of the traditional pastries. Every day the pastry
shops buzz with elegantly dressed businessmen and
hordes of housewives. Even teenagers stop in between classes to munch down a pastry or a buy bagful to share with their classmates.
One might say that in Bilbao pastries have always
been what pintxos have aspired to be over the past
decade: a daily dose of affordable haute cuisine.
JESUITA
BOLLO DE
MANTEQUILLA
The indisputable king of everyday treats. A light buttery bun sliced down the middle and filled with
whipped pastry butter, but not at all like the butter
you buy at the grocer’s. This filling is much creamier, more like a combination of butter and whipped cream. You can find these buns at virtually
every pastry shop in the city, and in countless cafes,
bars and shops.
The jesuita (yes, the Jesuit!) is a triangular puff
pastry with a glaze on top. Some are filled with
pastry cream and others with a sweet cabello de
ángel pumpkin jam. Scrumptious!
PASTEL RUSO
This well-known pastry takes on a life of its own in
Bizkaia. The recipe is quite simple: mix egg whites
and sugar to make a meringue. Bake the mixture in
sheets and fill with a sweet buttery cream. Then cut
the cake up into squares and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.
59
In addition to traditional Bilbao pastries and
cakes, visitors will also find an endless assortment of other types of pastries, such as this
brioche cake sold at La Suiza. Photographs by
Gonzalo Iza. www.delifunart.com
Addresses:
Pastelería Arrese. Gran Vía, 24. Phone: 944 234 052.
Pastelería Nietos de Martina Zuricalday. Plaza San José 3 (Corner of Colón de Larreategui and Iparraguirre). Phone: 944 241 346.
Pastelería La Suiza. C/ Marqués del Puerto, 4. Phone: 944 23 86 25.
Pastelería New York. C/ Buenos Aires, 19. Phone: 944 232 517
CULTURE
60
FOR THE LOVE OF ART
MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES IN BILBAO
T
here is no question that the Guggenheim Museum has brought
millions of art lovers from every
corner of the world to Bilbao since
it first opened its doors in 1997.
Frank Gehry created an architectural masterpiece whose sculptural stone and titanium shell enshrines uniquely sinuous spaces and
dizzying heights. These shapes are juxtaposed
against classically proportioned rectangular galleries to provide a more appropriate setting for
works of art with more conventional formats, and
for large installations or colossal sculptures by
contemporary artists.
In 1908 it was also the love of art that prompted
artists, citizens and public institutions to found the
Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, which opened to the
public in 1914, and later, the Museo de Arte Moderno, which opened in 1924. The two institutions and
their respective collections ended up joining forces
in 1945, and that same year the first Bilbao Fine
Arts Museum building was erected.
In 1970 a new wing was added, and after a major
renovation completed in 2001, the Museum as we
know it today took shape. The Bilbao Fine Arts
Museum Collection is made up of more than eight
thousand works, including paintings, sculptures,
works on paper and applied arts. The Museum's
holdings represent an outstanding repository of art
from the 12th century to the present. The Collection presents antiquities, modern and contemporary artworks, with a particularly interesting
collection of paintings from Spanish and Flemish
schools and large collection of paintings by Basque artists. In the Museum's various galleries,
visitors will find works by Bermejo, Benson, Mandijn, Vredeman de Vries, De Vos, Moro, Sánchez
Coello, El Greco, Pourbus, Gentileschi, Ribera, Zurbarán, Van Dyck, Murillo, Bellotto, Goya, Paret,
Villaamil, Madrazo, Gauguin, Sorolla, Guiard,
Ensor, Regoyos, Romero de Torres, Zuloaga, Sunyer, Arteta, Gutiérrez Solana, Vázquez Díaz, Lip-
chitz, Delaunay, González, Gargallo, Bacon, Palazuelo, Oteiza, Chillida, Caro, Millares, Tàpies, Saura, Lüpertz, Kitaj, Blake, Arroyo and Barceló,
among others. It was precisely this appreciation
and love of art that led to the founding of the Bilbao Museum of Reproductions. The Museo de
Reproducciones Artísticas was originally created as an educational resource for teaching the
History of Art based on reproductions of masterpieces. With the opening of its new location in
the church of Corazón de María, the Museum
seeks to broaden its original scope, adapting its
aims to the current educational
environment.
At the same time, the Museum wants to be a
point of reference in Bilbao la Vieja, an area that
is undergoing a process of urban renewal and
attracting a number of young artists and designers. The Museum of Reproductions also wishes
to dedicate part of its art programme to the goals
of the International Association of Educating
Cities.
GALLERIES:
ART IN THE CITY
The opening of the Guggenheim Museum in 1997
made Bilbao an international destination for cultural tourism. In addition to the extraordinary
museum designed by Frank O. Gehry, Bilbao offers
more than 100 cultural spaces, exhibition halls
and art galleries, many of which enjoy a long and
distinguished history. Aficionados and connois-
seurs can chose from among a wide variety of
world-class art by Basque artists and leading
names in art from around the world. Near the
Museum, the Abando district is known for its longstanding art galleries. However, in Indautxu, the
Old Town and throughout the city the numerous
spaces dedicated to painting, sculpture and photography have put Bilbao on the map as a city on the
cutting edge.
www.guggenheim-bilbao.es
www.museobilbao.com
www.museoreproduccionesbilbao.org
www.euskal-museoa.org
www.museomaritimobilbao.org
www.eleizmuseoa.com
www.museo-benedicto.net
www.museodepasosbilbao.org
www.plazatorosbilbao.com
www.athletic-club.net
www.euskararenetxea.net
61
THE ALHÓNDIGA: CONTEMPORARY
FORUM FOR BILBAO
A
fter a long process of transformation, one of the most representative buildings for the people of
Bilbao re-emerges in the city centre – La Alhóndiga, the wine
warehouse designed by Ricardo
Bastida in 1909. The newly named AlhóndigaBilbao offers activities for everyone, and aims to become another driving force behind cultural and leisure
pursuits.
In 1905, a very young architect by the name of Ricardo Bastida was given the task of building a new
corn exchange on the outskirts of the city. He created a big industrial, functional and innovative building which was used as a warehouse for wines,
liquors and other spirits. Designed in a modernist
style, it was built with reinforced concrete and brick
and finished in 1909. In the 1970s, the business was
moved to a new location in the Recalde neighbourhood, and the Alhóndiga remained empty, awaiting
another use. The old modernist wine warehouse,
declared of Cultural Interest by the Basque Government in 1999, celebrates its 100 years of existence
with a newly restored exterior and a remodelled
interior. French designer Philippe Starck, commissioned with the construction of the new spaces,
says that modern architecture is not a matter of creating a new shape, but of achieving a modern way
of using that space.
ses that will leave no one indifferent. Starck wanted
to create something different, something artistic
and creative. For this, he turned to Italian set designer Lorenzo Baraldi and together they developed the
design for the 43 colossal columns that support
the interior of the original Bastida building.
Starck is a tireless artist. When he visited Bilbao it
was love at first sight, with both the city itself and
the AlhóndigaBilbao project. As a result of this
relationship, a new urban space has sprung up – a
solemn, unique and very original space full of surpri-
Starck has managed to develop an open space that
is hard to classify, a place that will remain in people’s minds and where Bilbao’s energy takes on a
life of its own. The AlhóndigaBilbao culture and leisure centre spans 43,000m2 of space dedicated to
culture, physical activity and recreational pursuits.
The building houses a multimedia library, a cinema,
auditorium, exhibition rooms, cafeterias, restaurants
and a shop. Facilities include a bar and outdoor
terrace, and a spectacular glass-bottomed indoor
swimming pool which seems to hover over the
building's atrium below. AlhóndigaBilbao hosts a
busy calendar of activities throughout the year,
including exhibitions, workshops, courses, conference series and congresses.
Fotographs by Eva Zubero
www.alhondigabilbao.com
FROM SYMPHONY TO FOLK,
A CITY AND ITS MUSIC
F
rom pop to symphonic to folk to
modern … music has always played a central role in the cultural
life of Bilbao and Bizkaia. A
good example of this is Bilboko
Orkestra Sinfonikoa (Bilbao
Symphony Orchestra), which gave its first concert
in 1922 at the Arriaga Theatre and over the
years has been accompanied by such illustrious
names as Kreisler, Piatigorsky, Rubinstein, Eisenberg and Zabaleta.
Older still is Bilbao's choir, Coral Bilbaína. Over
its nearly 130 years of history the choir has reaped some of the most coveted awards both natio-
BILBAO IS MUSIC
FUNDACIÓN BILBAO 700-III MILLENIUM
www.bilbao700.com
Bilbao offers both residents and visitors alike a calendar of musical events that reflect the city's cosmopolitan open atmosphere. Three different programs are on offer, designed to capture the interest of
all types of audiences.
nally and internationally, and its members have
sung under such outstanding directors as Rostropovich. Coral Bilbaína is also deeply committed to
education, leading a music conservatory and
organising music workshops for beginners.
In addition to these deeply-rooted Bilbao institutions, there are also a number of great names in
classical music associated with Bilbao. Pianist
Joaquin Achucarro, soprano Ainhoa Arteta
and violinist Félix Ayo are acclaimed by
audiences throughout the world. Traditional
songs and tunes and popular Basque music
are also very much alive and kicking. Musicians
such as accordionist Kepa Junkera and the traditional music group Oskorri have carried the
sounds of Basque music to audiences the world
over, often fusing traditional ballads and music
with new vitality. Songwriter, singer and guitarist
'Fito' Cabrales is another well-loved Bilbao
native with a loyal following and a long list of
recordings.
MUSIKA–MÚSICA
March. Euskalduna Palace
Musika-Música is a cultural event that since 2002 has managed to
break down people’s biases against classical. Original programming, a
wide variety of classical pieces, top-notch musicians, an adaptable
space that can accommodate up to seven performances at a time, and
affordable prices have all contributed to the success of MusikaMúsica. Some of the composers featured in this unique programme
include Haydn, Mozart, Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Beethoven, Schubert,
Bach, Chopin, the great Russian composers such as Tchaikovsky,
Rachmaninoff and Rimski-Korsakov, the leading Spanish and French
figures from the second half of the 19th century to the mid 20th century, Albeniz, Granados, Falla, Debussy, Ravel and Bizet.
BAS-BILBAO ARS SACRUM
March / April
The Church of the Encarnación
Musical expressions reflecting the spirituality of different religions come together in Bilbao Ars Sacrum,
BAS, a multi-cultural encounter with the voices and melodies of religious sentiment to herald Easter
week in Bilbao. The church of the Encarnación will set the stage for religious music from different cultures, featuring a wide repertory of styles, genres and rhythms. Classical music, cantatas, choirs and
soloists offer musical prayers that seek a dialogue with different expressions of divinity, performed by a
careful selection of internationally acclaimed musicians.
365 JAZZ BILBAO – ALL YEAR, ALL JAZZ
Jazz has become part of the rhythm of Bilbao.
It is a musical style that is always alive and in
constant change, heard throughout the year in theatres, universities, clubs, museums, and even in
certain hotels. 365 JazzBilbao brings Bilbao
audiences the best sounds and musicians on the
international jazz scene today, ranging from classic
jazz to more experimental styles. Concerts are held
at various venues, with stages shared by local and
nationally known bands, and some of the biggest
names in jazz today.
62
63
60 YEARS OF OPERA IN BILBAO
A BILBAO FRIENDS OF THE OPERA
F
or this season the Bilbao Friends
of the Opera Association (ABAOOLBE) has put together a varied
programme featuring five premieres and 60 performances. For
60 years, season after season,
the ABAO has offered a programme acclaimed
both nationally and internationally, drawing as
many as 110,000 spectators.
The Association enjoys a loyal audience supportbase of some 6,500 members, who have been
able to attend stellar ABAO performances by
legendary names including Del Monaco, Simionato, Aragall, Bruson, Freni, Scotto, Calas, Pavarotti, Kraus, Caballé, Carreras, Nucci, Bergonzi,
Capuccilli, Gencer, Raimondi and Flórez. In addition, the ABAO organises activities designed to
foster an appreciation for opera among society as
a whole and young people in particular.
Activities include Opera Berri a programme specially designed to inspire young opera singers,
offering special prices for under 26s; an educational programme, which has just completed its
22nd year, offering events and workshops for
schools; ABAO Txiki, a special opera season geared for kids, and concerts featuring the best voices of the moment, among other activities.
Seville), La Princesa Árabe (The Arabian Princess), El Traje Nuevo del Emperador (The Emperor’s New Clothes) and other performances specially suited for children.
www.abao.org
In 2006 ABAO launched TUTTO VERDI, a signature programme which intends to stage all of the
Italian composer's operas over the course of 15
years, and which has thrust the ABAO into the
international Verdi limelight.
The different programmes feature several of the
Italian maestro's works such as La Traviata, Les
Vêpres Siciliennes and Un Giorno di Regno ….
Other operas are also on the ABAO line-up including La Bohème, Tosca and Maria Stuarda.
Among the numerous concerts and activities
included in the ABAO Txiki programme for children, are Pedro eta Otsoa (Peter and the Wolf), El
Superbarbero de Sevilla (The Super-barber of
64
COLLECTION OF ROLLS - ROYCES,
RIGHT HERE IN BIZKAIA
E
ven if you are not an automobile
enthusiast, let's face it, a RollsRoyce is a Rolls-Royce. A
symbol of quality, perfection,
elegance and luxury, the RollsRoyce was a gold standard for
the British Empire until 1989. (Today the Rolls-Royce is owned by the German automobile manufacturer BMW.)
For the numerous fans the world over, there is
nothing better than to discover this legendary
brand in the great outdoors.
Nestled among the woods and hills is the town of
Galdames, home to the fortress-like Rolls-Royce
museum, the only museum in the world dedicated
exclusively to the Rolls-Royce. In the region
known as Las Encartaciones, bordering on Cantabria, a 13th century defensive tower rises over
the surrounding countryside. Visitors are invited
inside the drawbridges, moats and walls to discover the fantastic collection of luxury automobiles
on display.
The 35-kilometer journey takes you from Bilbao up
a gentle pass past cows and sheep grazing placidly
in the fields. The museum's enthusiastic owner
opened this peculiar monographic museum over
two decades ago. Today it is the only museum
in the world that boasts every model of Rolls-
Royce that has ever been made, in addition to an
important collection of other luxury vehicles such
as Ferraris, Jaguars and Lamborghinis.
Spread out over six large pavilions, the collection
includes cars from every decade of the 20th century, from a 1899 Allen Runabout, to a 1914 RR Silver Ghost Alpine Eagle, to a 1956 Phantom IV, to a
1990 Silver Spur. There are also a few sports cars
such as a Ferrari Testarossa. All of the vintage
vehicles on display are in excellent condition and
are perfectly roadworthy.
Open Sundays and bank holidays.
www.torreloizaga.com
65
CRISTÓBAL BALENCIAGA MUSEUM,
THE ELEGANCE OF A GENIUS
C
hristian Dior once said, "With
fabrics, we do what we can.
Balenciaga does what he
wants." And what better way
than to see it for yourself?
Just 55 minutes from Bilbao
is the town of Getaria, Gipuzkoa, birthplace of
the acclaimed fashion designer and now home
to the recently opened Cristóbal Balenciaga
Museum. The young Cristóbal spent his boyhood years playing on the steep cobblestone streets of Getaria before setting up shop in San
Sebastián as a young man, and later moving to
Bordeaux and Paris to further his career. he
Balenciaga Museum is housed in a new building annexed to Palacio Aldamar, the stately
home formerly owned by the Marqués and Marquesa de Casa Torres, Balenciaga's mentors in
his early years.
The museum's collection consists of approximately 1200 pieces and is not only the most
extensive collection of Balenciaga creations in
the world but also the most representative both
in terms of quality and the time span covered.
It undoubtedly takes pride of place among the
most important fashion collections on the inter-
national scene today Cristóbal Balenciaga is
unanimously considered one of the most outstanding and influential couturiers of the 20th
century. A tireless perfectionist, he had a full
command of couture techniques and dedicated
his life to refining the construction of his
designs, introducing extraordinary innovations
that allowed him to evolve towards greater
simplicity and purity of form.
Balenciaga’s exceptional genius inspired him to
create bold designs in terms of shape and aesthetics which had huge international impact
and became fashion trends season after season. His mastery earned him the respect of his
colleagues and made him the indisputable king
of international haute couture until his retirement in 1968.
www.cristobalbalenciagamuseoa.com.
BILBAO, PORT OF ENTRY
INTO ‘THE BASQUE WORLD’
THERE ARE MANY PLACES OF INTEREST TO VISIT LESS THAN TWO HOURS’ DRIVE FROM BILBAO. BELOW IS
A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF THE BEST SUGGESTIONS, INCLUDING DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIÁN,
BIARRITZ, VITORIA-GASTEIZ, PAMPLONA, RIOJA ALAVESA AND THE CABARCENO WILDLIFE PARK.
BIARRITZ, CÔTE BASQUE
The town of Biarritz, one of the loveliest on the Basque coast, will forever be associated with royalty and emperors, including Napoleon III, who chose it as their holiday destination in times gone by. Originally home to a small whale-fishing fleet, Biarritz became a fashionable spa resort at the beginning of the last century and has always been
accepting of outside influences without losing any of its own particular charm. Broad-minded and cosmopolitan, Biarritz brings together a mixture of seemingly contradictory
styles, with very up-market shopping, top international fashion brands, an Art Deco aquarium and renowned dance festivals. A few kilometres away is Saint Jean de Luz, one
of the highlights of the region. www.biarritz.fr Estimated travel time: 1 hour 40 minutes.
RIOJA ALAVESA:
THE WINE CAPITAL
Rioja Alavesa is perhaps the best-known part of
Alava. It is worth visiting as much for its historic
sites as it is for its excellent wines. Situated in the
Ebro river basin in the southernmost tip of the Basque Country, it offers a completely different landscape, wonderful walled towns and renowned
wineries. One winery deserves special mention:
Marqués de Riscal in the town of El Ciego, designed by architect Frank Gehry.
www.turismoriojaalavesa.com
Estimated travel time: 1 hour 25 minutes.
67
CABÁRCENO, WILDLIFE
The Cabárceno Wildlife Park is neither a conventional zoo nor a nature reserve. The 750 hectares of
karst terrain, originally an open quarry, was landscaped to give it a park-like setting. The park is home
to one hundred species of animals from all seven
continents living in semi-freedom. The park is divided into large areas shared by one or more animal
species.
www.parquedecabarceno.com
VITORIA-GASTEIZ
Vitoria-Gasteiz served as inspiration to writer Ken Follet when he visited the city’s old town and the restoration
work on the beautiful and unique Cathedral of Santa Maria. A visit to Plaza España, the Town Hall, Plaza de la
Virgen Blanca, and the Bendaña and Montehermoso mansions will complete your trip to the capital of Alava.
www.vitoria-gasteiz.org/turismo Estimated travel time: 1 hour.
PAMPLONA
The San Fermín festival kicks off every year with the chupinazo, a rocket fired from the balcony of the Pamplona town
hall at 12 midday on July 6. The event ends at midnight on
July 14 with the woo-is-me farewell song Pobre de mí. San
Fermín is best known for the Running of the Bulls, or encierro, an event which takes place every morning at 8 am from
July 7–14. Pamplona comes alive for the duration of the
festival.
www.turismodepamplona.es
DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIÁN, EXCELLENCE
Voted European Capital of Culture 2016, Donostia-San Sebastián is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, a
place where tradition and modern living, together with a certain reminiscence of the Belle Époque, exist quite
happily together. The impressive calendar of events includes world-class international jazz and film festivals.
Another very important part of the culture of the city is its food, with restaurants boasting a record-breaking total
of 16 Michelin stars and an array of internationally recognised chefs. In fact, gastronomy vies with scenery in the
top attraction stakes. Other interesting places to visit are the recently inaugurated Basque Culinary Center and
the newly restored San Telmo Museum. Not far from Donostia-San Sebastián is another museum devoted entirely to the work of the master of fashion, Cristóbal Balenciaga, in his home town of Getaria.
www.sansebastianturismo.com
BILBAO CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MUSIC
ÓPERA- ABAO
For more than 60 years, ABAO (the Bilbao Friends
of the Opera Association) has put on its nationally and internationally renowned opera season.
Throughout its history, major figures such as Del
Monaco, Aragall, Freni, Callas, Pavarotti, Kraus,
Caballé, Carreras and Flórez, among many others,
have appeared on stage. Each season, which
runs from September through May, ABAO stages
7 operas in addition to a full programme of concerts, conferences and educational programmes
to instil in young people a love for this art form.
In 2006 ABAO embarked on the Tutto Verdi project, an unprecedented venture to bring to the
stage the full repertoire of the Italian composer’s
operas over the course of 15 years.
www.abao.org
BOS
On the verge of celebrating its 100th anniversary,
the Symphony Orchestra of Bilbao (BOS) made its
debut in the Arriaga Theatre in 1922, and since
1999, has been based in the Palacio Euskalduna,
which features a magnificent auditorium with
exceptional acoustics. The BOS concert season,
under the direction of Günter Neuhold, begins
every year in mid-October and runs until the end
of May. During the season they perform around
20 symphonic concerts and a dozen chamber concerts. Over the years BOS has played with worldclass musicians such as Kreisler, Piatigorsky,
Rubinstein, Eisenberg and Zabaleta.
www.bilbaorkestra.com
365
JAZZ BILBAO
365 Jazz Bilbao is a concert series that runs
year round and is a regular event for the city’s
jazz lovers. The line-up features notable figures in the international jazz scene performing
in the city’s major music halls and theatres.
Additionally, at weekends outstanding local
and national ensembles give concerts in
various hotels throughout the city. 365 Jazz
Bilbao is committed to promoting and spreading culture in Bilbao, making it affordable to
all audiences while upholding quality.
www.365jazzbilbao.com
MUSIKA-MÚSICA
Since 2002, Musika-Música is a cultural event
that has been helping people to overcome
their prejudice against classical music thanks
to original programming, a wide variety of pieces performed, quality musicians, an adaptable performance space that can accommodate
up to seven concert halls at a time, and affordable prices.
www.bilbao700.com
B.A.S.
BILBAO ARS SACRUM
BILBAO BBK
LIVE FESTIVAL
Nestled in the green rolling hills, with spectacular views over the Bilbao metropolitan area,
Kobetamendi park will once again be the venue
for the Bilbao BBK Live music festival in July. In
2010 this popular summer event was nominated
for Best Foreign Festival at the UK Festival
Awards. Bilbao BBK LIVE bands and performers
have included legendary groups and on the
international concert circuit. The event has
As a preface to Holy Week, the Bilbao Ars
Sacrum music series offers a sampling of religious music and the sacred traditions of people and cultures around the world. The spiritual and solemn atmosphere of the Iglesia de
la Encarnación is the ideal setting for this
musical event
www.bilbao700.com
become a signature event for fans of the latest
trends in rock music, featuring concerts by
groups such as ColdPlay, Chemical Brothers,
Pearl Jam, Rammstein, Placebo and Depeche
Mode. Bilbao BBK LIVE 2013 invites Depeche
Mode back this year, sharing the stage with
Green Day and Kings of Leon.
www.bilbaobbklive.com
MUSIKETAN
For 21 seasons Musiketan has offered highquality on-going music programmes with international artists playing concerts in intimate
venues.
www.musiketan.com
69
POP-ROCK VILLA
DE BILBAO
The Pop-Rock Villa de Bilbao competition is geared
towards new young European music groups. It was
born in 1988 with the aim of promoting and spreading the music of emerging bands and solo artists.
The competition has become a point of reference for
the current European music scene.
ZINEBI
KALESZENA
ZINEBI, the festival of documentary and short film,
has been part of Bilbao’s film scene since 1995.
Held yearly in mid-November, films are shown in the
three Official Selection categories: documentaries,
short films and short animated films. In addition to
the films in competition for the festival’s Mikeldi prizes, the festival programme is rounded out with out
of competition sections and screenings.
www.zinebi.com
During Holy Week Bilbao offers cultural and leisure
activates for visitors and residents who want to
take advantage of the holiday and enjoy street life.
Kaleszena puts on small stage performances, Basque folk music performances and other street entertainment in the town centre and in the Old Town.
www.bilbokokalealdia.com/es/kaleszena
DANTZALDIA
During the days of autumn, for over 10 years, dance
performances have graced some of the city's most
FILM, THEATRE
AND DANCE
B.A.D.- BILBAO
ANTZERKI DANTZA
At the end of every October Bilbao welcomes a vanguard of the performing arts, Bilbao Antzerki eta
Dantza (Bilbao Theatre and Dance), whose programme includes theatrical debuts, dance spectacles and
multidisciplinary performances by both local and
international artists. Each year more than 20 groups
perform their artistic projects on various stages
throughout the city.
www.bad-bilbao.es
FANT- FESTIVAL
DE CINE FANTÁSTICO
DE BILBAO
Every spring at the beginning of May Bilbao hosts
FANT, the Fantasy Film Festival. This event premieres fantasy and terror films in the Official Selection.
It also gives special attention to young Basque filmmakers by showing their work in the FANT Short
Film Section and through the creation of a special
prize awarded to the best Basque short film.
www.fantbilbao.net
ZINEGOAK
With ten years of experience, Zinegoak, the Bilbao
Gay-Lesbian-Trans Film Festival, brings to Bilbao
each February the latest gay-lesbian-trans audiovisual productions that have been screened at major
festivals around the globe, in addition to productions whose content or background take a fresh look
at LGBT people living in different parts of the world.
www.zinegoak.com
KALEALDIA
When the month of July arrives, the streets and plazas
of Bilbao’s Old Town and Ensanche district are converted into open stages for Kalealdia, a festival that celebrates street theatre and spectacle created and performed by local and international artists. Among the rich
variety of street performances are itinerant musicians,
vertical dancing on building facades, traditional street
theatre troupes and various types of circus acts.
www.bilbokokalealdia.com
prestigious stages. In addition to the programmed
dance performances, there will be parallel activities
such as master classes open to the public, round
table discussions with artists, and more.
www.dantzaldia.org
MENDI FILM FESTIVAL
In December 40 films will compete at the
International Mountain Film Festival. The festival will also include several film retrospectives and parallel activities for people of all
ages. Some of the best known female mountaineers will attend the event.
www.mendifilmfestival.com
LITERATURE AND
ADVERTISING
GUTUN ZURIA
INTERNATIONAL
FESTIVAL
The International Literary Festival, Gutun Zuria, running in
April, is a rendezvous with big names from the world of
literature and a space to discover new authors. While
underway, the Festival, which has been taking place at the
AlhóndigaBilbao since 2008, draws international attention
to the city. This gathering between authors and readers
offers the public the chance to meet outstanding writers
including Salman Rushdie, Elena Poniatowska and Hanif
Kureish and film directors like Alex de la Iglesia and David
Trueba. With the slogan “Readers/Writers and their
Fables”, at this year’s edition authors such as the Canadian
writer Margaret Atwood and the Argentinian-Canadian
writer, editor and literary critic Alberto Manguel will
explain how and why they made the shift from reading to
writing. One of the results of this rendezvous with literature and thought is the creation of a network of contacts
with culture centres and institutions in Russia, France and
Korea, among others, and with national bodies too, prompting the launch of important cultural projects for the city.
LA RISA DE BILBAO
In October the Biscayan capital celebrates La Risa
de Bilbao, a festival dedicated to humour in literature and the arts. The weeklong event hosts numerous activities such as conferences, exhibitions,
microcinema, book presentations, etc.
www.larisadebilbao.com
SOL
In May Bilbao hosts the Latin American Advertising
Festival, known as SOL. This annual meeting showcases the best examples of creativity in advertising
in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world.
While the festival focused on television advertising
in its early days, today it is a multimedia affair that
includes all expressions of commercial communication and advertising in all areas and media.
www.elsolfestival.com
CELEBRATIONS
GAU ZURIA
NOCHE BLANCA
In mid-June between the hours of 8:30pm and 2am
Bilbao celebrates Noche Blanca, or White Night, by
inviting both locals and visitors to experience a
night of entertainment and leisure in which a dozen
activities are on offer at the city’s major museums
and cultural centres. White Night encourages
residents to see the city and its main cultural
attractions in a different light by taking a magical
night-time walk through the streets to enjoy music,
dance and theatre performances, short films, poetry
readings and the vibrancy of street life at night.
www.bilbao700.com
ce 1964, on every 11 October, the day dedicated to
Our Lady of Begoña (known as Amatxu de Begoña
to locals), groups of txikiteros hold their own celebration known as "Txikitero Eguna" or “Txikitero
Day”. The txikiteros go from bar to bar in the Old
Town, singing songs of local origin known as bilbainadas, and they make an offering to the statue of
the Virgin found at the intersection of Santa María
street and Pelota street.
DESIGN
SELECTED
GRAPHIC DESIGN
ASTE NAGUSIA
Bilbao’s Aste Nagusia, or Big Week, begins on the
first Saturday after Assumption Day, during the
second fortnight of August. From its beginnings 30
years ago, this popular and well-attended celebration floods the city each summer with activities,
music, performances, fireworks and above all else
the festive and welcoming spirit of Bilbao’s residents. In 2009 Bilbao’s Aste Nagusia topped the list
of 10 Treasures of Intangible Cultural Heritage in
Spain by popular vote. www.astenagusia.com
TXIKITERO EGUNA
The txikiteo or poteo, a tradition that spans generations, is one of the typical ways that residents participate in the city’s social life. A txikito or pote is a
short wide-bottomed class whose contents are
usually consumed along with one of the most
authentic Basque culinary specialties: pintxos. Sin-
The Selected Graphic Design from Europe event that
takes place in March brings together different designers from throughout Europe so they can share experiences and discuss current topics in design. The intensive two-day event features conferences, workshops
and other supporting activities, all geared to creating
synergies between local and international designers
and creatives.
www.bilbaointernational.com
CREATIVITY
MEETING POINT
Creativity Meeting Point is an international forum held
in Bilbao for the creative industries. People involved in
creative endeavours share best practices in an international environment. The Creative Trade Mission takes
place during the event, giving entrepreneurs from Europe the opportunity to share ideas and experiences with
all participants.
www.creativitymeetingpoint.com
BILBAO INTERNATIONAL
ART & FASHION
Bilboost is a professional network for young designers
that aims to provide virtual spaces where young creators from around the globe can meet and foster the
development of new trends as well increase interest in
their work through exposure to companies in the sector. The springboard was the bi-annual Bilbao International Art & Fashion event, the only event in the world
that combines fashion and art and is geared toward
young designers of clothing and accessories between
the ages of 18 and 35.
www.bilboost.com
71
SPORT
BILBAO TRIATHLON
The Bilbao Triathlon takes place in May. Over 500
participants enter this demanding competition consisting of swimming, cycling and running trials, each
cheered on by enthusiastic spectators who support
the colossal efforts of the athletes as they make
their way through the city.
www.bilbaotriathlon.com
BILBAO NIGHT
MARATHON
Since 2009 athletes have been taking to the streets
of Bilbao in this unique night-time foot race. Limited
to 5,000 registered athletes, beginning at 9pm all
runners participating in this popular contest will run
one of three distances: a 42-km marathon, a 21-km
half marathon or the 7-km Pirate Run for beginners.
This will be the fourth Bilbao Night Marathon.
www.bilbaonightmarathon.com
PADEL PRO-TOUR/COPA
JULIO ALEGRÍA
This veteran tournament has been running since
1996 and garners international attention. The Cup
has been held every year since then, and it is one of
only two international Grand Slams held in Spain
licensed by the International Padel Federation. The
Cup is named after Bilbao’s own Julio Alegría, the
first president and founder of the International Padel
Federation and tireless promoter of the sport. The
annual competition brings together internationally
renowned padel tennis players in addition to offering numerous clinics open to aficionados.
www.julioalegriacopa.com
BILBAO CHESS
MASTERS FINAL
In October Bilbao will host the final round of the
international Grand Slam Chess Masters tournament organised by the Bilbao E4 Chess Club. Bilbao
has played host to the prestigious round-robin tournament since 2008. After playing the first round in
another city, six of the world’s best chess players
will face off in the final round in Bilbao. Biswanathan Anand, Magnus Carlsen, Levon Aronian, Vasili
Ivanchuk, Francisco Vallejo and Hikaru Nakamura
will be the stars of the second half of the chess
final, playing their games in a specially-designed
soundproofed glass box.
www.bilbaomastersfinal.com
that connect the five hills in Bilbao. Mountain
bike cycle-touring with beautiful scenery without
having to leave the municipal limits of Bilbao –
an adventure sport that everyone can enjoy.
www.jfgsport.es
BILBAO-BILBAO
CYCLING CLASSIC
ATHLETIC CLUB
DE BILBAO
Designed as an authentic cycling fest, the Marcha Cicloturista Bilbao-Bilbao has been held
every year since 1988, bringing together thousands of cycling enthusiasts whose main purpose is to have fun and promote the use of bicycles. With no categories or podium at the end of
the ride, everyone is a star. The streets of Bilbao
are the starting and ending point and the roads
along the route are closed to traffic.
www.bilbaobilbao.com
Bilbao lies in the origins of football in the Iberian
Peninsula. The Athletic Club was founded in
1898. The club's philosophy of bringing players
up through the ranks of the youth academy, combined with a deeply popular following, make the
Athletic Club very unique indeed. With 24 Copa
championships and eight La Liga championships
under its belt, the club has always played in the
highest category of Spanish competition and has
consistently recruited players who learned their
craft in one of the Basque regions. The trophy for
the highest goal scorer in La Liga is named after
an Athletic Club legend, Rafael “Pichichi” Moreno, a statue of whom presides over San Mamés,
popularly known as The Cathedral. Every each
time a visiting team plays at the stadium for the
first time, they pay tribute to the Athletic Club
legend.
www.athletic-club.net
HERRI KROSA
Herri Krosa is one of the most popular events on
the sports calendar. Over its 25-year history
more and more people have been taking part in
this popular foot race, today an authentic family
event. Instead of being organised as a competition, the aim has been to help promote sport as
a way of life, based on health, enjoyment and
personal challenge. Thousands of men and
women of all ages, from children to seniors, take
to the streets of Bilbao for a few hours in one of
the autumn highlights of the sports calendar.
www.herrikrosa.es
EXTREME BILBAO
BIZKAIA BTT
Sport and nature come together in the annual
celebration of this mountain-biking race for amateurs. The spirit of outdoor sports brings hundreds of cycle-tourists to Bilbao for a day away
from the asphalt. The route follows consists of
74 kilometres of public pedestrian-only paths
FROM SANTURCE
TO BILBAO
Popular footraces have become an important
part of the autumn calendar in Bilbao. Bilbao
is the starting point, finish – or both – of
many of them, including the Santurce to Bilbao, one of the most popular footraces of the
year. Just like the local folksong about women
who used to walk from Santurce to Bilbao
selling sardines, this race starts at the port in
Santurce and follows the Nerbioi-Ibaizabal
estuary into Bilbao.
www.carreraspopulares.com
INGENIEROS - DEUSTO
ROWING RACE
Being a university town, Bilbao also place host to
student sporting competitions. The longest-standing
event of this type, the Ingenieros-Deusto Rowing
Race, sponsored by the School of Engineering, has
been held every March since 1981 in the Bilbao
estuary. The rowing event uses classic Olympic sliding-seat boats manned with eight rowers and a
coxswain. The contenders are from the School of
Engineering of Bilbao or Deusto University, both
century-old institutions of higher learning. The
regatta takes place along a four nautical mile
stretch from the town of Erandio to the Bilbao town
hall. The event fosters a spirit of healthy competition and good sportsmanship. The prize for the winning team is the satisfaction of accomplishment and
victory. www.laregata.org
Game Festival Bilbao will award the year's
best producers, directors, artists, developers,
and editors of European fun and serious video
games.
www.fun&seriusgamefestival.com
HÓPLAY
The Atrium of Cultures at the AlhóndigaBilbao
will host the International Videogame Festival,
HóPLAY. This year's Festival will centre on the
latest in the world of technology, placing Bilbao squarely on the calendar of technology
events. The Atrium's 6000 m² will be divided
into different areas in which leading equipment manufacturers will showcase their latest
products and most exciting new designs.
www.alhondigabilbao.com/hoplay
NONICK
ACTIVE LEISURE
Nagusi is a fair held in October at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre aimed at improving the quality of life for
our senior citizens. The event is a point of reference
and meeting place for people interested in courses,
information and leisure activities leading to a healthier lifestyle.
www.nagusi.com
Every year in June Bilbao is the venue for
NONICK, an international congress which
focuses on emerging trends in the Internet.
The programme includes panel discussions,
workshops open to the public, a contest for
emerging projects and an evening party.
www.nonickconference.com
EUSKAL ENCOUNTER
BILBAO BASKET
Basketball has been with us in Bilbao for over half a
century, but Bilbao Basket has managed to pump
new blood into the sport. Founded in 2000, it took
the team only three seasons to be promoted from
the Spanish Basketball League's second division
(LEB-2) in 2001-2002 to the maximum category,
ACB. Since that time it has played uninterruptedly
in what is considered the most powerful European
league, finishing runner-up, and has taken part in
the highest-level games in the Eurocup and Euroleague competitions. The so-called hombres de negro,
named for their black uniforms, have a huge following. Fans go wild with enthusiasm when they play
at their home court, Miribilla.
www.bilbaobasket.biz
TECHNOLOGY
FUN & SERIUS
GAME FESTIVAL
This autumn Bilbao will host the Fun &
Serious Game Festival, a contest that awards
the best video games and videogame makers
of the year in areas including culture, education and medicine. Besides awarding the best
videos from around the world, the festival also
aims to create a space for networking among
industry professionals. The Fun & Serious
Euskal Encounter is a multi-day event where
thousands of amateur and professional computer users come together to share ideas and
partake in computer related activities. The
event is held every year in July at the BEC.
www.euskal.org
CRAFTS FAIR
FAIRS
MACHINE TOOL
BIENNIAL
The Machine Tool Biennial, held at the Bilbao
Exhibition Center since 1985, is one of the
industry’s leading international trade fairs. In
fact, it is considered the third most important
in Europe. Every year, the most relevant manufacturers and distributors in the machine tool
sector have a chance to showcase their latest
developments, technologies and services.
www.biemh.com
This fair has become a Christmas time classic in Bilbao and throughout the province. Visitors have the
chance to see thousands of quality hand-crafted
items made in the workshops of talented artisans.
The annual event features booths from workshops
in Bizkaia, as well as artisans from other parts of
Spain and abroad. Created to promote craftsmanship in Bizkaia, this fair has become a major event for
local artisans, providing them with a venue to promote their names, their work and their products.
The fair is also an excellent platform for generating
sales. www.feriaartesaniabilbao.com
FOCCUS
Foccus Bilbao is a food and gastronomy trade fair
held every two years at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre.
Aimed at the catering, restaurant and hospitality
trade professionals, participants have the opportunity to establish business relationships with restaurant and bar owners, hotel proprietors, distributors
and wholesalers, gourmet retailers and commercial
and sales representatives from major distributors.
73
www.foccus.eu
EXPOVACACIONES
Expovacaciones, a tourism and leisure trade
fair, offers visitors a full range of travel
options and tourism services, as well as fun
and entertaining activities. Fairgoers will
learn firsthand about the latest destinations
and services in tourism, hospitality, travel and
leisure. Visitors can even plan and directly
book their holidays, entertainment activities
and weekend getaways on offer throughout
the year. www.expovacaciones.eu
The event is held in conjunction with
BRICOFORMA, the international DIY trade fair, a
new platform for retailers and suppliers of
products in the DIY and home improvement
sector. FERROFORMA and BRICOFORMA join
forces to offer the first trade show of its kind in
Spain, an event which covers all of the business
opportunities and information needs of
hardware buyers and sellers.
www.ferroforma.eu
SANTO TOMÁS
MARKET
AL GUSTO
Inspired by the Slow Food philosophy, which
advocates a slower lifestyle, the enjoyment of
good healthy food, agricultural biodiversity
and regional produce, the Al Gusto fair seeks
to become a reference point in the artisan
food and cuisine industry. The fair offers a
sample of some of the best foods from around
the world, as well as talks promoting the philosophy behind the Slow Food movement.
www.algusto.eu
FERROFORMA
This international hardware trade fair brings
together manufacturers, distributors and
professionals that make up the supply chain for a
wide variety of industrial and hardware products.
On 21 December, in the run-up to Christmas, the
Santo Tomás market is held in Bilbao's Arenal
and Plaza Nueva. The market offers the season's
best fruit, vegetables, fowl, cheese, pork products and of course the traditional talo corn tortilla with chorizo sausage, washed down with a
glass of txakoli wine brought to market by local
grape growers.
FACILITIES &
VENUES
ARRIAGA THEATRE
Commissioned by the Bilbao Town Hall, the Arriaga
Theatre was built between 1886 and 1890 where the
city's former theatre, Teatro de la Villa, once stood. The
Paris Opera house served as inspiration for architect
Joaquin Rucoba's neobaroque design. The theatre cost
the city one million pesetas and boasted the most
advanced technology of the day. The novelty of electric
lighting was a major event for the city on opening
night. After a fire destroyed the building's interior, the
theatre was refurbished in 1916, and again between
1982 and 1986, when the building was restored to its
original splendour and equipped with the latest technology. Over the years leading international figures have
graced the stage at the Arriaga, which offers a varied
programme and serves as a venue for some of the city's most important events.
www.teatroarriaga.com
PALACIO EUSKALDUNA
The Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall,
opened in 1999, was designed by Federico Soriano and
Dolores Palacios. The building was erected on the site
of Bilbao's historical Euskalduna shipyard. In 2001, the
Euskalduna won the Enric Miralles award at the Sixth
Biennial of Spanish Architecture. The building is a
53,000 m2 multifunctional complex which brings together a long list of wide-ranging activities. The Euskalduna serves as venue for the ABAO Opera Season, one of
the most important and prestigious in Spain and Europe, and is the seat of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, a
magnificent musical institution that performed its first
concert in 1922. The building combines public use areas – auditorium, numerous conference rooms, meeting
rooms, boardrooms, offices, foyers and exhibition hall –
with service areas designed as warehouses, workshops, dressing rooms, rehearsal rooms, etc.
www.euskalduna.net
ALHÓNDIGA BILBAO
The Alhóndiga was originally a wine warehouse
designed by Ricardo Bastida in 1909. After a long
process of transformation, the newly named
AlhóndigaBilbao now spans 43,000 m2 of space
dedicated to culture, physical activity and recreational pursuits. The building houses a multimedia
library, a cinema, auditorium, exhibition rooms,
cafeterias, restaurants and a shop. Facilities
include a bar and outdoor terrace, and a spectacular glass-bottomed indoor swimming pool
which seems to hover over the building's atrium
below.
The theatre reopened in 2010 after a comprehensive refurbishment and is now the most technologically advanced theatre in Spain. The result is
a magical place, restored to its former glory and
ready for a bright future as a venue for performing arts, education and training.
www. arteria.com/ciudades/Bilbao
BILBAO ARENA
THEATRE CAMPOS
ELISEOS
Built in less than one year under the supervision
of architect Alfredo Acebal and French decorator
Jean Batiste Darroguy, the Campos Elíseos Theatre opened its doors in 1902. The building is one
of the most outstanding examples of Modernist
architecture in the Basque region, featuring a
spectacularly decorated facade. The theatre was
built on the land where the Campos Eliseos gardens once stood. Many leading theatre companies and influential figures of the last century
appeared on the stage of the Campos Eliseos.
The Bilbao Arena was named Best Building of
the Year in 2011 by ArchDaily, the world's most
visited architecture website. The Bilbao Arena,
designed by architects Javier Pérez and Nicolás
Espinosa, is a 30,800 square metre multiuse building featuring a sports centre with swimming
pool and fitness centres, and a playing court that
can accommodate three events simultaneously.
Home of Uxue Bilbao Basket, the court has a
seating capacity of 8,500 and is available for all
types of events outside of the basketball season.
Facilities include locker rooms, medical and antidoping room, storage areas, etc, spread over
25,985 square metres.
www.bilbao.net
75
BIZKAIA'S
SPECTACULAR
FIESTAS
A majority of the towns in Bizkaia celebrate
their patron saint days in spring and summer. If
you have the chance to visit some of the local
festivities, you'll discover the beauty of the
townspeople in full regalia and see how the
well-loved fiestas run through the hearts and
souls of the people of Bizkaia. The festivities
are blend of the old and the new, a time when
everyone is invited to take part and give it all
they've got. The best way to find out when the
fiestas in Bizkaia take place, and how to plan
your summer visit and accommodation needs,
is to log on to the Bizkaia tourism website at.
www.mybilbaobizkaia.com
GETXO JAZZ
FESTIVAL
The International Jazz Festival in Getxo opens
the summer music season. The event features
the best jazz musicians in Europe and also serves as a springboard for up-and-coming musicians in the world of jazz.
www.getxo.net/jazzgetxo
DURANGO BOOK FAIR
Since 1965 the Basque Book and Record Fair of
Durango is attended each year by more than
130,000 people. This year, the festival will take place in December, bringing together book lovers and
industry professionals.
www.durangokoazoka.com
EASTER WEEK
IN BALMASEDA
The town of Balmaseda is very proud of its traditions, and holds a magnificent passion play every
Easter. The central activity takes place on the evening of Holy Thursday and the morning of Good Friday, with a performance of the last moments in the
life of Jesus of Nazareth. Re-enactments of Christ's
passion are played out on the town's streets and
squares.
www.viacrucisbalmaseda.com
BIZKAIA CALENDAR OF EVENTS
BILLABONG MUNDAKA
CHALLENGE
The Billabong Mundaka Challenge brings the
world's best tuberiders back to Mundaka. A
waiting period has been put in place to ensure
flawless conditions and an epic return of
world-class surfing to Mundaka, a venue that
holds a special place in European surfing folklore. Famed for having one of the world's
best left-hand tubes, the Basque town will
once again host the top of the professional
surfing elite. It’s a great opportunity to visit
Mundaka and enjoy a passion that is almost a
lifestyle.
www.themundakachallenge.com
GETXOPHOTO
The GETXOPHOTO photography festival, dedicated to showcasing images in new formats, media and unconventional exhibition spaces, will be held in September. Each year the Festival takes a different theme, understanding
photography as a tool of knowledge, communication, and, of course, artistic enjoyment. GETXOPHOTO explores
experimental forms and exhibition spaces, focusing mainly on public spaces. Acclaimed art critic Christian Caujolle is the festival’s new curator. Caujolle’s curatorial programme over the next three years will revolve around the
idea of “Other Worlds”, which will include three themes: Dreams, Struggles and Travels.
GETXO INTERNATIONAL
BLUES FESTIVAL
PAPER DRESS COMPETITION IN GÜEÑES
For more than half a century (the exact date of the first edition is not known, but the earliest references date to
1958), the International Paper Dress Competition has been celebrated in September as part of the La Cruz festivities in the town of Güeñes. Since its beginnings, this competition has been closely associated with sewing and
most of the participants have been professional dressmakers or amateur seamstresses. All of the paper dresses
must be hand or machine sewn – no stapling allowed.
Since 1989, the Getxo International Blues Festival
has shown audiences the richness of blues music
and has been committed to giving it the attention it
deserves. Blues takes the stage in Getxo for three
full days, giving audiences the opportunity to experience the diversity music rooted in African and
American culture.
www.getxo.net
THE PASSION
OF HOLY WEEK
IN BERANGO
Since 1980, the 'youngest' of Bizkaia's live
representations of the Passion of Christ makes a
creative use of space, staging the event in three
closely placed locations. The bulk of the representation takes place in front of the church portico. The actors then move to the nearby gardens at Torre de Berango – often used as a
backdrop for wedding pictures before staging
the final hours on the wooded hillside behind
the town hall. In a combination of religion and
performance, for over three hours a cast of 250
reenact the final hours in the life of Jesus
Christ.
77
ARRANTZALE EGUNA
IN BERMEO
Bermeo celebrates Arrantzale Eguna, the day of the
fisherman, as part of the town's Andra Mari and
Santa Eufemia patron saint festivities. Every September 9, all the locals wear the classical fisherman's outfit and head to the streets, turning the entire
town blue. Music and fanfare fill the streets and a
lively frolicking time is had by all. Traditionally, the
men and women would go out and enjoy the fiesta
in separate groups.
ww.bermeokoudala.net
GERNIKA FAIR, LAST MONDAY IN OCTUBRE
Every Monday year round people come from throughout the Busturialdea region to buy and sell their wares at the
market in Gernika. However, the last Monday in October is the best time for visitors to enjoy the market at its
best. Together with the town of Ordizia, Gernika has one of the few traditional markets still held in Euskal Herria,
an event that draws professional producers and small farmers. Another figure often found at the market are the
so-called ventajistas, people who act as distributors, going from farmhouse to farmhouse buying goods from farmers who would otherwise not sell their products at market. This tradition keeps small farmers in business.
www.gernika-lumo.net
IKAS-ART-NATUR
Ikas-Art is a university art biennial in which a number of Fine Arts schools in Spain and abroad come
together to show artwork created by their students.
Ikas-Art is the only event in the world that highlights the latest trends in art made by university
students. This year Ikas-Art celebrates its fourth
edition. Each university selects which of their students' works will be included in the show, deciding
on whatever criteria they feel is most appropriate
for representing their school at the event.
www.ikas-art.com
BALMASEDA BEAN
POT CHALLENGE
Every year on October 23, the international railroaders beat pot competition is held. The event involves preparing a traditional Balmaseda bean stew
made with beans, bacon, chorizo sausage and black
pudding. In former times, these bean pot meals,
known as putxeras, used to be the only dish eaten
by the railroad workers on their journey between
Balmaseda and La Robla, León. A number of special
events take place alongside the the bean pot challenge, including street music and dancing, processions, performances, rural sports, concerts and Basque pelota.
www.balmaseda.net
ANTZAR EGUNA IN LEKEITIO
Antzar Eguna, or Goose Day, has been celebrated in the coastal town of Lekeitio for 300 years. The day's main
event is the Antzar Jokoa, or Goose Game, held on the wharf on 5 September. A goose is suspended head down
from a long rope ties between a pole on the quay and the mast of a boat. Nowadays, dead or even fake geese
are used, although previously the game was played with live geese. Teams have to row out in their special boats,
called pottines, and a designated person has to jump up, grab the goose, hang on to it and try to yank off the
head before falling into the water. The team that collect the most goose heads wins.
www.lekeitio.com
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
BILBAO HOTELS
Air travel
Airport (Loiu)
+34 94 486 96 64 / +34 94 486 96 63
http://www.aena.es
FEVE
+34 94 425 06 15 (Monday-Friday) /
+34 902 100 818 (Saturday & Sunday)
http://www.feve.es
Buses
Bilbobus (city buses)
Customer Service +34 94 479 09 81 / Switchboard
+34 94 448 40 70
http://www.bilbao.net/bilbobus
Transcantábrico
http://www.transcantabrico.feve.es/
Bizkaibus (regional buses)
Atención al Cliente +34 902 222 265
http://www.bizkaia.net/
5 - STAR *****
Hotel Carlton
Silken Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao
Hotel López de Haro
Hotel Meliá Bilbao
Eusko Tren
+34 94 401 99 00/
Customer Service +34 902 222 265
http://www.euskotren.es
4 - STAR ****
Bus terminal
Garellano– Termibus
+34 94 439 52 05 / +34 94 439 50 77
Hotel Abando
Hotel Ercilla
Hotel Gran Bilbao
Hotel Hespería Bilbao
Hotel Hespería Zubialde
Hotel Spa Husa Jardines de Albia
Hotel Miró
Hotel NH-Villa de Bilbao
Hotel Sercotel Coliseo
Hotel Silken Indautxu
Hotel Zenit Bilbao
Hotel Holiday Inn Bilbao
3 - STAR ***
Abba Parque Hotel
Hotel Barceló Nervión
Hotel Best Western Conde Duque
NH - Hotel de Deusto
Hotel Tryp Arenal
Hotel Petit Palace Arana
2 - STAR **
Hotel Artetxe
Hotel Bilbao Jardines
Hotel Bilbi
Hotel Estadio
Hotel Sirimiri
Hotel Vista Alegre
Hotel Photo Zabalburu
1 - STAR*
Hotel Arriaga
Hotel Ibis Bilbao Centro
Hotel Ripa
Funicular
Funicular Artxanda
+34 94 445 49 66 /
+34 94 445 49 58
Metro
Metro Bilbao
+34 94 425 40 25
http://www.metrobilbao.net
Tram
EuskoTran
902 54 32 10
http://www.euskotran.es
Spain-wide and international coach service ALSA
+34 902 422 242
http://www.alsa.es
Línea PESA
+34 902 10 12 10
http://www.pesa.net/
Autobuses La Unión
+34 94 427 11 11
http://www.autobuseslaunion.com/
Ships
Ferry Bilbao-Portsmouth
+34 94 423 44 77
http://www.poferries.com
Autobuses Ansa-Gestea-Viacar
+34 94 427 42 00 / +34 902 33 04 00
http://www.continental-auto.es/
Taxis
Radio Taxi
+34 94 444 88 88
Bilman bus Vibasa-Hisesa-Cuadra
+34 94 441 44 98
http://www.bilmanbus.es
Tele Taxi
+34 94 410 21 21
Eurobús
http://www.unionbus.com
Ferrocarriles
Eusko Tren
+34 94 401 99 00/
+34 902 543 210
http://www.euskotren.es
RENFE
+34 902 24 02 02
Long distance trains
+34 94 487 91 38/
+34 94 487 92 19 Regional trains
+34 94 487 92 22
http://www.renfe.es
Radio Taxi Nervión
+34 94 426 90 26
CLIMATE
Bilbao has a temperate oceanic climate. The
predominant westerly winds and moderating
effect of the ocean prevent extreme temperatures, favouring year-round temperate climate. The average temperature in winter is 8°C
and in summer 20°C. Precipitation is concentrated mainly in spring and autumn. Winters
are mild and summers not excessively hot.
79
TOURISM OFFICES
LEKEITIO
Independentziaren Enparantza s/n. 48280 Lekeitio.
BILBAO
Teléfono: 94 684 40 17 - Fax: 94 684 41 67
Bilbao Turismo
www.lekeitio.com turrismo@lekeitio.com
Plaza del Ensanche, 11. 48009 Bilbao.
MENDATA
Teléfono: 94 479 57 60 - Fax: 94 479 57 61
Bº Elexalde s/n. 48382 Mendata
www.bilbao.net
Teléfono: 94 625 72 04 - Fax: 94 625 65 04
www.mendata.es mendata2@euskalnet.net
Oficina de Información Teatro Arriaga
MUNDAKA
Plaza Arriaga s/n. 48005 Bilbao.
Kepa Deuna z/g. 48360 Mundaka.
BILBAO RESERVAS
Tel/Fax: 94 617 72 01
Oficina de Información Museo Guggenheim Bilbao.
Alameda Mazarredo Zumarkalea, 66. 48009 Bilbao.
www.mundaka.org turismo.mundaka@bizkaia.org
www.bilbaoreservas.com
MUXIKA
Antigua Estación de Zugastieta. Ctra.
BAKIO
Zornotza-Muxika. 48392 Muxika.
Lehendakari Agirre Plazea, 3. 48130 Bakio.
Teléfono: 94 625 76 09 / 628 00 77 25
Teléfono: 94 619 33 95 - Fax: 94 619 31 61
www.urremendi.org turismo@urremendi.org
www.bakio.org - turismo@bakio.org
ONDARROA
BALMASEDA
Erribera, 9. 48700 Ondarroa.
Turismo Encartaciones
Teléfono: 94 683 19 51 - Fax: 94 683 35 14
C/ Martín Mendia, 2. 48800 Balmaseda.
www.ondarroa.net turismobulegoa@ondarroakoudala.net
Teléfono: 94 680 13 56 / 94 680 02 26
ORDUÑA
Fax: 94 680 13 56 www.enkartur.net
Foru Plaza, 3-bajo. 48460 Urduña-Orduña.
The Bilbao booking service will help visitors find
accommodation at one of the city’s many hotels
and guest houses.
INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS:
902 877 298
946 613 279
BARAKALDO
Teléfono:/Fax 945 38 43 84
Oficina de Turismo BEC
www.urduna.com
PLENTZIA
Feria de Muestras de Ansio. 48080 Barakaldo.
turismo@urduna.com
Erribera Kalea, 23 48620 Plentzia.
Teléfono: 94 404 02 37
Teléfono: 94 677 41 99 - Fax: 94 677 55 41
(Abierta sólo durante las ferias)
www.plentzia.org
BERMEO
turismo,plentzia@bizkaia.org
Lamera s/n. 48370 Bermeo.
PORTUGALETE
Teléfono:94 617 91 54
Paseo de la Canilla, s/n
www.bermeo.org turismo@bermeo.org
48920 Portugalete.
DIMA
Teléfono: 94 472 93 14 - Fax: 94 472 93 15
Telleri Kalea 27. 48141 Dima.
www.portugalete.com
Teléfono: 94 404 60 97
turismo@portugalete.org
www.gorbeialdea.com turismo@gorbeialdea.com
SANTURTZI
DURANGO
Puerto Pesquero Kalea, 20
Oficina de Turismo
48980 Santurtzi.
Teléfono: 94 483 94 94 - Fax. 94 462 71 81
Lariz Torre kalea, 2. 48200 Durango.Teléfono: 94 603 39 38
www.durango-udala.net turismo@durango-udala.net
GERNIKA-LUMO
Artekale, 8. 48300 Gernika-Lumo.
Teléfono: 94 625 58 92 - Fax: 94 625 32 12
www.gernika-lumo.net turismo@gernika-lumo.net
GETXO
Playa de Ereaga, s/n. 48992 Getxo.
Teléfono: 94 491 08 00 - Fax: 94 491 12 99
www.getxo.net infoturismo@getxo.net
BILBAO CARD
To make it easier to move around the city and enjoy
the sights, the Bilbao offers visitors the BilbaoCard.
This card allows visitors to use city public transportation at low fares, and take advantage of significant discounts at museums, shops, restaurants, leisure facilities, and shows, among other services.
The BilbaoCard is availalbe at the following
locations:
Teléfono: 94 679 97 15
www.gordexola.net gordexolaturismo@enkartur.net
Bilbao Tourism Offices
Plaza Ensanche, 11
Tel. 94 479 57 60
Teléfono: 94 677 43 48 - Fax: 94 677 19 38
Alameda Mazarredo Zumarkalea, 66.
48009 Bilbao
Bº Ambasaguas, 22
Teléfono: 94 680 69 28 - 696 44 63 01
www.karrantza.org turismo@karrantza.org
Teléfono: 94 406 55 19 - Fax. 94 676 70 15
www.sopelana.es
turismo@sopelana.net
SOPUERTA
Centro Cívico Municipal
48190 Sopuerta.
Teléfono: 94 610 40 28
www.sopuerta.biz
ZIERBENA
Multifunción Eraikina
Portua Auzoa z/g
www.gorliz.net turismo@gorliz.net
KARRANTZA-HARANA
SOPELANA
Loiola Ander Deuna, 28. 48600 Sopelana.
sopuertaturismo@enkartur.net
GORLIZ
Iberrebarri plaza, 4. 48630 Gorliz.
turismo@santurtzi.net
Plaza Carmen Quintana 6
GORDEXOLA
c/ Zubieta, 10. 48192 Gordexola.
www.santurtzi.org
Albergue Bilbao Aterpetxea
Ctra. Basurto-Kastrexana, 70
Tel. 94 427 00 54
48508 Zierbena
Teléfono: 94 640 49 74
www.zierbena.net
turismo@zierbena.net
86
TOURISM TRANSPORT
IN BILBAO
T
he Bilbao City Tour bus offers visitors a comfortable and convenient
way to see the city. Begin and end
your itinerary at any one of the
scheduled stops along the way. A
24-hour ticket allows you to hop on
and off as many times as you like, picking and choosing what interests you most. The Bilbao 'Bus Turistikoa' is a great way to enjoy the city at your own
pace.
Bilboats specialises in tourism and cultural services, offering visitors a new perspective of the city
as seen from the Nervión River, its very heart.
Embark with us on a fascinating river cruise, discovering the past, present and future of Greater Bilbao. All of our excursions begin and end at the
same point in the centre of Bilbao, with no stops in
between. Audio guides are also available in several languages with explanations providing insight
on the route itself, history, buildings, bridges and
other structures.
The funicular runs from Plaza del Funicular, next to
Paseo del Campo Volantín, to the top of Mount Artxanda. Operating hours are workdays from 7.15am
to 10.00pm and on Sundays and bank holidays
from 8.15am to 10.00. In the summer months
(June, July, August and September) service is
extended to 11.00pm. The funicular runs every 15
minutes except during special events when large
crowds are expected, in which case greater frequency is required.
www.busturistikoa.com
www.bilboats.com
FREE WIFI HOTSPOTS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY

bilbao tourism - University of the Basque Country

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