LOCATION
Located in northeastern Spain, Bilbao is a port city with a rich industrial history.
Its prosperity is reflected in the beautiful 1930s buildings, and one is struck by the harmony of this beautiful city’s historic urban layout.
MOUNTAIN LIKE
What is also striking is the fact that it is surrounded by green landscapes: this gives the impression of being in a ski resort town—or rather, a town in the mountains.
RENAISSANCE
Following the decline of local industry, the municipality and the region took matters into their own hands and steered the city toward tourism and culture—notably by submitting a bid to host the future Guggenheim Museum in Europe and by commissioning architect Calatrava to build a magnificent bridge.
In addition, the facades of the “Black City” have been renovated, major urban development projects have been launched, and an ambitious policy for public infrastructure has been implemented.
The airport project was also entrusted to Calatrava, and the Iberdrola Tower project to architect Cesar Pelli.
URBAN PLANNING
Port and industrial activities have been relocated, freeing up the banks of the Nervión River, which are now a pleasant place to stroll.
And this trend will continue, as the city has commissioned architect Zaha Hadid to design the development plan for the artificial Zorrotzaure peninsula (5,000 housing units and several footbridges over the river).
All of this has given the city a new lease on life, and you’ll find yourself strolling through a little paradise: a city that’s pleasant for both pedestrians and drivers, clean, and full of flowers.
GAY FRIENDLY
What can I say? Casco Viejo, the city’s historic district, is very pleasant.
The atmosphere is very gay-friendly, and Plaza Barria (1821, neoclassical) with all its outdoor cafes is very welcoming. I recommend the red Martini, served in abundance!
MUSEUM
The Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, is magnificent! We’ll come back to it later.
AWARDS
In 2004, Bilbao received the award for the world’s best urban project at the Venice Biennale, as well as the European Urban Planning Award.
WHAT TO DO
I’ll go into detail in the “What to Do” section about what there is to do, and I can assure you that this modest-sized city offers plenty of options for a very long weekend.
