Bilbao: The Basque Country In Spain You Will Adore

In Spain, Bilbao is one of the great treasures of the Basque Country. Bilbao has a great history, impressive architecture, amazing food, and many sights and landscapes. Before 1997, Bilbao was an ugly industrial city that was transformed. Within a few years, interesting projects were done. One could not have imagined that they would change it so radically in a colorful and clean city.

So, from an industrial city with many factories, it slowly became a tourist city with many attractions. So let’s go on a trip that will be unforgettable. A trip to Bilbao is full of life with its simple, hospitable inhabitants and wonderful sights.

Guggenheim Museum

The glamorous Museo Guggenheim Bilbao is one of the most iconic buildings of modern architecture made of titanium. The museum played an essential role in the upgrading and regeneration of the city, encouraged its further development, and placed Bilbao firmly in the international focus of art and tourism. The museum is famous more for its architecture than for its content.

The initiator of the museum is Canadian architect Frank Gehry. The museum has modern and contemporary artworks and was built in the Port of Bilbao. In the museum, temporary exhibitions can be visited and include works of Basque and foreign artists. With your ticket, informative audio guides are available for free.

Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo is the Old Quarter of Bilbao, full of charming streets, noisy bars, and many quirky and independent shops. In the heart of Casco, you will find the original seven streets of Bilbao. These have existed since 1400. You will also see the Gothic Catedral de Santiago Cathedral of the 14th century, which has a magnificent Renaissance door and a beautiful small monastery.

Further north of the district, you will find Plaza Nueva, where there is a small Sunday flea market full of second-hand books and stalls with old music records. Also, you will find a flower market on Sunday mornings in the nearby Plaza del Arenal. Keep in mind that the view from the Old Town will be unforgettable.

Bellas Artes Museum

For art lovers, the Museo de Bellas Artes houses a fascinating collection that includes everything from Gothic sculptures to 20th-century pop art. There are three main collections that you can admire in the museum. First, there is classical art with works of Murillo, Zurbarán, El Greco, Goya, and Van Dyck. Secondly, contemporary art with works of Gauguin, Francis Bacon, and Anthony Caro.

Last but not least, Basque art with pieces of the great sculptors Jorge Oteiza and Eduardo Chillida. You can also enjoy temporary exhibitions that attract crowds. Previous exhibitions have showcased everything from Japanese art to surrealist sculpture.

Itsasmuseum Bilbao Museum

For history lovers, the interactive maritime museum Itsasmuseum is a good choice. The museum brings Bilbao’s aquatic depths and Basque maritime history to life. When visiting, it is good to start with a 10-minute video to overview Bilbao’s history from 1300 to the present day. Then you can wander through the two floors of the shows, which show old shipbuilding techniques, painful wrecks, pirate threats, and intricate models.

In the museum, you will see the 60-meter-high crane “Carola” of 1957 that was used to build the boats on the slipways there. Don’t miss “Skin of Light,” an audiovisual installation showing Bilbao’s profound changes from the mid-1980s to 2010.

Gastronomy

After an enjoyable tour, it is worth trying the traditional cuisine of Bilbao, which has become world-famous. Their local cuisine is based more on fish since it is a coastal town. In the various restaurants in the city, you can taste cod fish, baked crabs, stew, and pintxos bites. Some traditional dishes to try are Bacalao pil-pil (fried cod with garlic), Bacalao ala Vizcaino (cod with red sauce), Txangurro (baked crabs), Marmitako (potatoes with tuna and vegetables), and Alubias de Tolosa (black beans with sausages). 

For all of the above attractions and gastronomy, Bilbao is worth visiting. You will surely love to walk along the narrow paths of the Old City, admire the beautiful view of the new city, enjoy the tours of its remarkable museums and monuments, and taste its amazing cuisine.

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