bilbao
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Bilbao is situated in Basque Country and is Vizcaya’s capital city in a picturesque landscape on the banks of a tidal river known as the Nervión.
Climate is by far the major allure of this city, but it is also a great European family vacation destination.
Bilbao is also home to some world-famous architectural wonders, such as the celebrated Guggenheim Museum and Euskalduna Palace.
The wonderful Old Town is another must see, with its bustling streets lined with ancient mansions, small boutiques and bars, and a gothic cathedral.
Climate is by far the major allure of this city, but it is also a great European family vacation destination.
Bilbao is also home to some world-famous architectural wonders, such as the celebrated Guggenheim Museum and Euskalduna Palace.
The wonderful Old Town is another must see, with its bustling streets lined with ancient mansions, small boutiques and bars, and a gothic cathedral.
Guggenheim
Locals in Bilbao are divided on whether it is a 'beauty or a beast', but the bizarre multi-million dollar Guggenheim Museum, opened in 1997, has brought thousands of visitors flocking to the city to be awed or floored. The massive museum, designed by Frank Gehry, has no right angles and resembles a metallic flower clad in shiny titanium, and is sited in the former dockyard alongside the Nervion River. Inside, apart from breathtaking spaces, the museum houses the works of some important 20th century artists, including Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, Willem de Koonig and Clyfford Still. There are also sections displaying the work of young Basque and Spanish artists, and rotating exhibits lent by the Guggenheim museums in New York and Venice. |
Basque Coast
The Basque coast, a wild place of natural beauty, full of tradition and gastronomy. Discover the Oldest Transporter Bridge in the world, the rough coastline and fine sand beaches, the historical and typical Basque fishing villages. See the Biosphere of Urdaibai, declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site and the village of Gernika, home of the Basque Sacred Tree. Admire the old industrial areas that once powered Bilbao. You will visit the Transporter Bridge of Bizkaia, the oldest bridge of this type in the world, still active and a very much loved icon for the locals. Mundaka, a beautiful site with magnificent views of the Urdaibai Biosphere, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visit the village of Gernika to visit the Casa de Juntas or old Law House and the Basque Sacred Tree. |
Sanctuary of Loyola
In 1491, a family of minor nobility welcomed its 13th child, who would one day change the world. San Ignatius Lopéz de Loyola, a soldier turned to the priesthood by his strange visions, founded the Brotherhood of Jesus, or Jesuit order, whose radical interpretation of Catholicism left its mark on both the New and Old World. A place of pilgrimage and wonder for the devout and secular alike, San Ignatius' former home has been transformed with Chirriguerresque flair into a grand compound. In addition to the basilica and shrine, there is an art museum displaying a few of his belongings and writings, as well as religious objects collected over the centuries. Shrines to other Jesuit saints are also arranged around the grounds. |
Gernika
It's the small picturesque Basque town that was razed to the ground on 26 April 1937 by German aircraft sent by Hitler to support Franco's troops in the Spanish Civil War. It was an experiment for the blitzkrieg tactics and bombing of civilians seen in later wars, and it prompted Pablo Picasso to paint his most famous work named after the town itself. Gernika is the traditional heart of Basque nationalism. The famous Tree of Gernika, under which democratic assemblies were held from medieval times up until the 19th century, has been adopted as the symbol of the Basque Country as a whole, and the Biscay Parliament sits in the house next to it. |
San Sebastián & Biarritz
A model of good urban design, the centre of town is easily walkable and has plenty of interesting architecture. Admire the beauty of San Sebastian on a walking tour of the Old Quarter, Protected from strong winds by steep cliffs and islands, La Concha in San Sebastian is said by many to be one of the best city beaches in Europe, let alone Spain. Delight yourself with Biarritz, The Beach of Kings, a place chosen to spend their summer vacations by European royalty and famous figures such as Napoleon III and Frank Sinatra. San Sebastian, the most beautiful city in the Basque Country, there are magnificent views up the mountain Igeldo, plus a walking tour into the old historical quarter. |