Travel in Spain: Bilbao is beautiful

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Many have visited Barcelona, ​​Madrid, and Valencia, but there are other cities in Spain that are worth a visit, such as Bilbao. Here are reasons why you should visit the capital of the Basque Country.

Guggenheim museum

1997 Guggenheim Museum was a kind of development aid project for Bilbao. The industrial city with its abandoned factories had a bad reputation. Tourists hardly ever strayed here. That has changed with the Guggenheim Museum, which has become one of Spain’s most important new buildings thanks to Frank Gehry’s architecture. The silver shape is intended to symbolize a ship – a reference to the seaside location and the past as a shipbuilding site.

The museum has attracted several million visitors in recent years, which has led to the revitalization of the city and the improvement of its infrastructure. Today, Bilbao is one of the country’s most popular city destinations, thanks to the Guggenheim Museum.

There are exhibitions of contemporary art (in addition to architecture). Highlights are Richard Serra’s massive steel sculptures and Jeff Koons’ oversized dog “Puppy,” which is decked out with seasonal flowers twice a year.

Fly: There is even more contemporary art in Bilbao. For example, a bridge from Santiago Calatrava and metro stations from Norman Foster.

Insurance Viejo

Although Bilbao makes a mainly modern-industrial impression, Bilbo, as it is called in Basque, has a small but beautiful old town. In the winding streets, you can not only shop at cute boutiques (international chains in the new city), but also admire the most important historical buildings. First of all, the cathedral dedicated to the Spanish national saint James (a northern variant of the Way of St. James passes through here).

But most importantly, the old town is the best place in town to try the most important delicacy: pintxos – something like artistic sandwiches. Some chefs turn the Basque version of Spanish tapas into true works of visual art. There are many good bars around Plaza Nueva, all serving pintxo.

The market hall of the Mercado de la Ribera

The Mercado de la Ribera, the market hall on the edge of the old town on the Nervión River, looks a bit like a brick cruise ship. Built in the Art Deco style in the 1920s, the building occupies the site where a market was set up in the past. With an area of ​​10,000 square meters, Mercado de la Ribera is the largest of its kind in Europe. You can buy local delicacies and fresh produce from the region at the market stalls. Restaurants and cafes have moved to a part of the market: ideal for lunch after a walk in the city.

Puente Colgante – suspension bridge

One technical feature, of which only eight are still in operation worldwide, is the Puente Colgante, now the suspension bridge in the growing town of Getxo with Bilbao’s industrial area. Special feature: A platform suspended from cables from a steel frame that floats above Nervión with cars and pedestrians. Dating from 1893, the bridge is the oldest of its kind in the world and has been declared a World Heritage Site by Unseco. The principle did not hold, as the capacity of the “floating ferry” was limited – but here you can still experience this curiosity in operation.

Fly: To get there, take the metro to Areeta station. From there it is just a few meters on foot. If you happen to be here, you should also visit Getxo’s old port (within walking distance), which still has an authentic structure and you can enjoy delicious fish in its restaurants.

Reach the beaches by metro

Bilbao may not be by the sea, but the Atlantic is just a stone’s throw or a short metro or bus ride away. Nine beaches can be reached by public transport from the city, and all of them are equipped with suitable infrastructure. Lifeguards are also on duty during high season. The three beaches in the small town of Getxo are the fastest to reach. The metro gets there in a few minutes from the city center without having to change trains.

In the footsteps of Game of Thrones

The Basque Country, with its dramatic scenery (where the Pyrenees skirts down to the sea), has always been the scene of major film productions. The most famous example of recent years is the cult TV series “Game of Thrones”, which was shot here in three locations. The most impressive place is the tiny island of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, which served as the backdrop for Dragonstone, home of the Targaryens in Game of Thrones. The castle in the movie is a computer animation, but the spiral stone bridge with many stairs leading to the island is also the original of the series. A little further on towards the city of San Sebastián is Playa De Itzurun, also part of the Dragonstone embankment.

Fly: The best way to explore the surroundings is to rent a car.

Attend an Athletic Bilbao match

Athletic Bilbao (also Athletic Club) is one of the most traditional football clubs in Spain. Besides being the Bilbao-based co-founders of the Spanish first division (Primera División), they are one of the few clubs that have never been relegated in their 87-year history. They have won the championship a total of eight times and finished fourth in the all-time table. Even though the last championship was almost 40 years ago, football is celebrated (almost) like a religion in Bilbao. Attending a match at Estadio de San Mamés is not just an experience for football fans.

Meanwhile: Athletic Bilbao only works with players from the Basque Country in Spain and France or who have had their first football experience there. A special feature in professional football.

Source : Blick