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 Basque and highland architecture |
Travesía del 16 de Agosto, 6-8 Bilbao 48006 Spain |
Close to the San Antón bridge and church and near what used to be the old Hospital de Atxuri (a building in the neo-classical style which today houses the Escuela de Artes y Oficios, and the Grupo Escolar del Maestro García Ribero), is located Atxuri station, from which one can travel to San Sebastián, Durango or Bermeo, among other destinations. This train terminus built in 1912 by the architect, Manuel María de Smith, is notable for its combination of Basque and highland architecture. The station is a building that combines the first floor arches with the less pronounced ones above, and it is the windows and tower that grab the eye. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Jabi Zabala - sarean.com  |
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Next to estuary |
Plaza Ernesto Erkoreka, s/n Bilbao, Vizcaya 48007 Spain +34 94 420 4200 http://www.bilbao.net/ |
Opened in 1892, the building that houses Bilbao's city council is the work of the architect Joaquin Rucoba, who also built the Arriaga Theatre. Among its principal features is a main exterior wall lavishly decorated in the Baroque style. The busts and statues adorning the place are of illustrious personages of the Bilbaon social scene. It was built upon the ruins of the old San Agustin convent. Climbing the exterior steps and entering the building, the first thing that stands out is the central staircase which meets with the most attention-grabbing spot in the town hall - the beautiful and singular Arab salon or reception area. This is a place of unusual beauty in which the main public acts take place. Located on the estuary's edge, opposite there is a bridge of the same name which crosses the estuary in the direction of Plaza Circular. Without leaving the town hall's pavement the visitor can get on to the Campo Volantín, or on to the other side of the estuary to walk along the recently opened Paseo de Urbitarte. The town hall's interior can be visited during the mornings all week at no charge. The most important features can be seen through a half hour guided tour. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Lena Speckmann |
 Photo: izaskun gracia |
 Photo: Haritza Zubillaga |
 Religious Art of Vizcaya |
Plaza de la Encarnación, 9-B Bilbao 48006 Spain +34 94 432 0125 |
The former Encarnación Convent is next to the church by the same name, darkened with the pass of time. This convent, and now museum, was founded by the Dominican religious order in 1515. As well as being a closed convent, many members of renowned families from Bilbao are buried here, and it has served as a military garrison during various wars. The museum opened in 1995 after City Hall ceded the building to the Diocese and the Vizcaya regional government agreed to pay for its remodelling. The reward for visiting this museum is the beautiful square cloister in the middle of the convent, with Renaissance colonnade, and a wonderfully silent and atemporal feel. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Interesting and varied historical-religious collection |
Plaza de la Encarnación, 9-B Bilbao 48006 Spain +34 94 432 0125 |
The museum's collection is divided into various sections and halls. On the first floor, the exhibit, "Silver work for religious ends" includes the following sections: "Introibo ad altare dei", silver work and its liturgical function; "Saint Eloy's workshop", silver work specifically from Bilbao; "Silver work in Bizkaia", which traces the evolution of this art from the Middle Ages, through the Renaissance, Barroque, Rococo, Neo-Classicism and the modern eras; and "Sacred Garments", a collection of liturgical clothing from the Renaissance to the 20th century. On the second floor, you'll find the exhibit "Manifestations of a People's Faith" which includes primarily sculptures and paintings. It's collection, "Andra Maris", is particularly noteworthy. It includes painted wood and stone images of the Virgin Mary and Christ from the 12th to the 15th centuries. Another section is "The Middle Ages, Hispanic-Flemmish and Renaissance Art" which consists of wood, stone and alabaster pieces, as well as furniture and paintings. The "17th and 18th Century Barroque" section includes paintings from this period, among which the thirteen by Lucas Jordan (1632-1705) are especially interesting. The last section is "Neo-Classicism and the Modern Era" which includes work by Asorey, Urrutia, Romero de Torres and Moisés Huerta, among others. The museum has a library specialising in religious art. If you would like to visit the library, you must first get special permission. Admission: adults EUR 2; students, children and seniors EUR1. Guided tour EUR 30. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Big natural space |
Txurdinaga Bilbao 48004 Spain |
This young park, opened in 1988, within a large expanse of land is considered the second biggest in Bilbao, after the Parque de Doña Casilda. It has various sculptures that represent the spirit of the union between different European peoples, an example of which is the Piedra de la Amistad (the Friendship Stone), a gift from the Count of Hampshire. There is a roller skating track and a frontón. Also, near one of the park's entrances, is the Txurdinaga Multi sports Complex. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Thomas Cloer |
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Old Bilbao cemetery |
Calzadas de Mallona Bilbao 48006 Spain |
Climbing from the Casco Viejo (Old Quarter) through the Calzadas de Mallona we reach what was in the past one of the most important religious architectural features of Bilbao. Of the old cemetery all that remains today is the arched entrance, which features Doric intercolumniation and was built by Juan Benavista in 1828. Upon it there is an inscription which reads "Here ends the pleasure of the unjust and begins the glory of the good". Today the cemetery's grounds are occupied by a football pitch (Mallona's), and by a landscaped area that connects with the Echevarria Park. The Vista Alegre cemetery, in the Derio municipality, is today the principal resting place for the city and its surrounding areas. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Víctor Moya |
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Commercial variety |
Bilbao, Vizcaya 48005 Spain |
Narrow winding streets, small squares and neighborhoods comprise this charming district that buzzes with activity every day of the year. As the heart of the old town, this area dates back to 1300 and in 1972 was recogized in statute as having great historical and cultural importance. After the disastrous floods in 1983 much of the district was rebuilt and improved. The Plaza Nueva, Plaza Miguel de Unamuno and Santiago Cathedral are particularly deserving of a visit, as are the many independently-owned boutiques that offer shoppers a wealth of choices. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Gary Pritchard |
 Photo: Beltza Scene Vol.3 |
 Photo: Jesús Gorriti |
 Photo: | *anabel | |
 Photo: Alberto Alvarez-Pere |
 Photo: StaneStane |
 Photo: Max Naylor |
 Photo: Stuart Smith |
 Photo: Jay |
 Photo: tokyoshawn |
 Photo: michelle leer |
 Photo: Corey Root |
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On foot through the city |
Cerca Plaza de Unamun Bilbao, Vizcaya 48006 Spain +34 944 71 0301 (Informacion Turistica) |
Setting out from Plaza de Unamuno, begin the climb to the Begoña basilica through the paved streets of Mallona (Las Calzadas de Mallona). These are an essential part of the Day of the Virgin celebration (15 August) when thousands of people visit the shrine of this basilica. Begin the walk through these famous streets through which in bygone days marched a civic procession every May 2nd in order to commemorate the deaths of those who fell defending the town during the Siege of Bilbao. During the Carlist wars Bilbao was under siege and General Concha overthrew the siege on May 2. At the summit of Las Calzadas, the gate of what was Bilbao's cemetery in the nineteenth century still stands today. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: paul_m |
 Looking down on Bilbao |
Virgen de Begoña, 38 Bilbao 48006 Spain +1 34 94 412 6805 |
This church dominates the city from its hilltop location. It dates from the 16th century and its most outstanding feature is the Renaissance-style main entrance. The main altar is an important example of the transition between the Romanesque and Gothic styles of architecture. Mass: M-F 9a, 11a & 6p; Sat 10a, noon, 1p, 6p, 7p & 8p; Sun 10a, noon, 6p &8p. No tourist visits allowed during mass. Mass is celebrated in the Basque language at 7p on Sat and at 10a on Sun. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Alberto Alvarez-Pere |