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 Walk along estuary bank |
Puente de La Salve Bilbao 48007 Spain |
Setting out from the Bilbao town hall, we enter one of the city's most privileged residential areas. Parallel to the estuary, Campo Volantin, which extends as far as the majestic La Salve bridge (so called because on arriving there sailors would pray at the sight of the Begoña basilica) has changed over the years. Mansions and villas began to disappear in the 1950's, replaced by blocks of apartments. Even today, though, there is still enchanting evidence of another age, in places like the parish of El Salvador, Santiago Apostol college or the magnificent nineteenth century Olábarri palace, which today houses the council of the Autonomous Port of Bilbao. The Guggenheim Museum and the Palacio Euskalduna, both situated on the bank opposite Campo Volantin, and which along with the Uribitarte pathway and the Calatrava footbridge have changed and made grander this landscape that rises parallel with the estuary. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: enplastilina |
 Photo: Umberto Luparelli |
 Photo: Lin Yu-Chung |
 Photo: sasa |
 Photo: tettinx |
 Photo: Abdallah Elshamy |
 Photo: Fred Hong |
 Photo: Alexander Goethals |
 Photo: Hrvoje Tomić  |
 Top quality & nice decor |
Bertendona, 6 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48008 Spain +34 94 415 0700 |
This gym is one of Bilbao's most modern, and is conveniently located in downtown Bilbao. The gym provides all sorts of options for taking care of your body or for playing sports within an attractive and contemporary ambiance. It has a full circuit of nautilus machines, cardiovascular circuit, sauna, steam baths, massage services and solarium. The gym also provides locker space, towels and toiletries. There are two membership options. The first is the "mini", which consists of a 10,000-peseta registration fee and then 7,900 every month. This plan allows you to use the gym from Monday to Friday only and at restricted times: in the morning 9am-12.30pm, and afternoon 4pm-6.30pm. The other option offers more flexibility in terms of time (Mon-Fri, 7am-11pm; Sat 9am-3pm and 5pm-10pm; Sundays and holidays 10am-3pm), but costs quite a bit more: 20,000-peseta registration fee and 11,900 monthly payment. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Classic Bilbao sports venue |
Alameda de Rekalde, 28 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48009 Spain +34 94 423 1108 clubdeportivo@deportivo |
Club Deportivo is an institution in Bilbao with more than 100 years of sporting services to Bilbaoans. Situated right in the city centre, a short distance from the Guggenheim Museum and close to the shopping and business area of town, it offers its members many sports and leisure facilities. It is equipped with a wall for playing the traditional Basque squash-like game, pelota. It also has two smaller walls, a paddle court and a short court. In addition there are two saunas and steam baths, a multi-gym, a fitness gym with boxing ring, children's and full sized swimming pools and solarium. There is also a hairdresser, cafeteria, restaurant, television lounge and medical room. All of this makes Club Deportivo a sports and leisure centre for an exclusive clientele. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Gym & Dance classes |
Henao, 20 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48009 Spain +34 94 424 7032 |
Corppo Max gym was only recently refurbished and now includes the latest in materials and machines. The initial registration fee of 5000 pesetas will allow you to take part in various classes and activities: aerobics, toning, cardio-vascular exercise, tai chi, jazz and other dance classes, such as 'sevillanas' or ballet. Monthly fees will vary, though, depending on the combination of classes or activities you sign up for. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 A breathing space |
Cerca de Palacio de Congresos Euskalduna Bilbao, Vizcaya 48011 Spain +34 944 71 0301 (Informacion Turistica) informacion@bilbaoturismo.bilbao.net |
You'll find this park alongside Bilbao's Gran Vía and you can escape from the traffic to spend some peaceful time walking along the pathways amongst an amazing diversity of majestic trees. It was laid out between 1912 and 1920 along the lines of an English country house gardens and it boasts four ponds. The most popular are the duck pond and the pergola pond, with its spectacular cybernetic fountain that's a veritable sound and light show during the summer. Next door, you can visit the impressive Museo de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Museum). All parks in Bilbao are open 24 hours a day. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: David Perez Facorro |
 Photo: Juan J. Martínez |
 Photo: Jon Piorno |
 Photo: Marivi Sanz |
 Photo: Josean Prado |
 Photo: Miguel Gibert |
 Photo: IBANE OROZKO PALMERO |
 Photo: Patricia |
 Discover Cantabrian sea bed |
José María Escuza, 16 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48013 Spain |
The Federación Vizcaína de Actividades Subacuáticas (Vizcayan Federation of Underwater Activities) offers the possibility of enjoying diving in Vizcaya. They periodically organise interesting trips to the Vizcayan coast in able to visit the depths of the most attractive parts of the coast, such as San Juan de Gaztelugatxe or the hermitage built in honour of the fishermen which has a statue installed at the bottom of the sea. You can also visit Cape Ogoño and Cape Billano, places where you can contemplate the richest and most diverse fauna and flora of the Bay of Biscay and the Cantabrian Sea. You can also get your scuba-diving license through the Federation if you want to go under through one of the local clubs. The yearly Basque Country license costs 4500 pesetas, and if you want the nation-wide license, good in the rest of Spain, that'll cost 5200 pesetas. The fee for certified technicians in the Basque Country is 5275 pesetas, and with the license good for the rest of Spain as well, it comes to 5975 pesetas. If you're not a member of any particular club, you can scuba dive for 1500 pesetas, or if a member, 700 pesetas. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Climbing and abseiling |
Iparraguirre, 46 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48010 Spain +34 94 443 1734 |
The Federación Vizcaína de Montaña (Vizcayan Mountain Federation) offers different activities to get in touch with nature. The activities they engage in most are climbing and abseiling. The places where these take place are: the Encartaciones, the Renero area, the eastern part of Vizcaya where there are limestone faces in the 5-8 category. Other climbing areas are the limestone cliffs of Urduliz, Cape Ogoño and Laga beach, all of which are on the coast. But the most important area is that of Atxarte, where the best climbing school in the peninsula is found. There are different zones and levels, from the 3rd grade up to level 8a and 8b which are for professionals only. Also, in the Amboto area there are seven rappels for experienced abseilers. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Good value for your money |
Máximo Aguirre, 6 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48011 Spain +34 94 427 8850 |
This gym is in the heart of the financial and economic distric of the city and just a few meters from the Guggenheim Museum off the Gran Viam Maximo Gym has on offer three basic sorts of activities: aerobics, weight training and cardiovascular exercises. When you register, you can sign up for one of these or any combination of the three. No matter what option you choose, the sauna and Turkish bath are included in the price. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Walkway between Las Arenas and Neguri |
Las Arenas y Neguri Bilbao 48990 Spain |
The Zugazarte walkway, that links the residential areas of Las Arenas and Neguri, both in the Getxo municipality, is notable for the number of small palaces and rambling houses dotted along the length of this stretch next to the sea. It is a landscape full of splendid examples of residential architecture, such as the villa called "Itsas Begi" (Eye of the Sea), built by the architect, Rafael Garamendi in 1927, or the one designed by Manuel María Smith in a marked Old English style, which occupies number 32 and goes by the name of "Bake Eder". A bit further on, at number 52, is the house called "San Joseren", built in 1914 by José Luís Oriol and another handsome example in Getxo's urban conglomeration. This is an area where palaces and stately villas abound. Built by Vizcaya's bourgeoisie between 1880 and 1920, they stand as symbols of the economic prosperity of the time. Review © 2007, Wcities |