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 Small beach with strong currents |
Acantilados de Punta Galea Bilbao 48990 Spain |
Between the Punta Galea cliffs in Getxo is the small Azkorri beach. Access to the beach is difficult and it is open to the sea. For some years it has held the Bandera Azul (Blue Flag), which the EC awards in recognition of the cleanliness of the sea, famous here for the strong currents that make it one of the most dangerous spots on the Vizcayan coast. Among its facilities is a small car park with up to 430 places, as well as showers and a lifeguard post, among other things. Continuing along to Punta Galea, we arrive at one of the most privileged recreational areas on the coast. It is a lovely place with impressive views, with the old Aixerrota windmill, dating from the 17th century and today housing a prestigious restaurant, being worthy of note. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Great place for surfing |
de Bilbao Bilbao 48130 Spain |
Bakio is just 27 kilometres from Bilbao and one of the favourite summer resorts of Vizcayans. Its well maintained and clean beach is one of the quietest places to spend a day in the sun. Open and large, it is also one of the favourite locations of surf and diving fans. It holds the Bandera Azul (Blue Flag), which is awarded by the EC in recognition of the best beaches. The village of Bakio is also worthy of note for the San Juan de Gaztelugatxe hermitage, a small chapel whose main attraction is the fact that it is perched on a crag and surrounded by the sea on practically all sides. There are two hundred steps to climb to reach it but the view from the top is well worth the effort. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Elena de la Cruz Pavía |
 Photo: Scott McLean |
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Two of the most familiar |
de Bilbao Gorliz y Plentzia Bilbao, Vizcaya 48630 (Gorliz) 48620 Spain |
A large shell-shaped bay houses the Gorliz and Plentzia beaches. Spacious and safe, these two family beaches are set in two of the largest Basque summer destinations. Near Gorliz beach and the huge building housing the Maritime Sanatorium which was built in 1909 by Mario Camiña, there is a collection of pine trees which people use for picnicking in the shade. For its part, the village of Plentzia has a marina, a fishing port, as well as an enchanting sea promenade, full of little boats, all very close to the Metro station. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Lluis Mir |
 Photo: Oscar López Jiménez |
 Photo: CRIVA |
 Photo: Rod Pires |
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One of most popular beaches |
Autovia de Santander Bilbao 48550 Spain |
La Arena beach is situated 21 kilometres from Bilbao in the township of Muskiz. This beach is reached by taking the main road to Santander from Bilbao, and it is considered one of the leargest expanses of sand on the Vizcayan coast. There is almost a kilometre of beach that is visited during the summer period by thousands of people. Among its facilities is a large car park with 2,500 spaces, and a children's play area, among other things. Quite near to the beach is the Petronor refinery, so that this is a landscape where beach, mountain and chimneys are juxtaposed. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
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City's main water thoroughfare |
Rio de Bilbao Bilbao 48005 Spain |
Considered a vital thoroughfare in this industrial and commercial city, the Nervión estuary has been one of the fundamental driving forces in Bilbao's economic and historical development: quays, buildings, warehouses, factories, steelworks, all sprung up on either bank shaping an industrial landscape some 14 kilometres in length along the river's route. Today little of this development remains. In the great transformation from industrial city to a city based on services that has taken shape in Bilbao, the Nervión or Ibaizabal estuary has played a part, with two of the city's most emblematic buildings today having been been built on one of its banks: the Guggenheim Museum and the Palacio de Congresos y de la Música, or Palacio Euskalduna. The cleaning of this estuary of great character and personality will in the future allow it to shine again in all its splendour and once again occupy the place it so deserves in the town's life. A speedy trip across the bridges that mark the estuary take us from its most distant past to the very present. Setting out from the symbolic San Antón bridge, the most recent bridge we come across is the one next to the Palacio de Euskaldena, from which it takes its name. It is a modern metal structure with a roofed walkway for pedestrians. Today visitors can sail in the Nervión in a boat called the Pil-Pil, in a trip that starts off at the Museo Guggenheim Bilbao and ends at the Abra port in Getxo. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Jose Angel Morente |
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Beautiful Nature Reserve |
Amid Gernika y Bermeo Bilbao 48350 Spain |
The Urdaibi Nature Reserve is some 40 kilometres from Bilbao, between Gernika and Bermeo. This large natural expanse which was declared a Biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1984, comprises 22,000 hectares shared between the capes of Matxitxako and Ogoño, including the Isle of Izaro. Among the many natural treasures to be found on this large reserve situated in the region of Busturia, is its wetland, which has been formed by sandbanks and the river Oka. It is considered an important wintering and resting place for migratory birds. It is a hydrographic basin that provides for various highly important natural ecosystems, such as the estuary and the karstic systems. Another of the most successful areas of Urdaibi is its holm-oak wooded area where foxes, thrushes, hedgehogs and blackbirds, among other species, all live. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Raúl Ortiz -Lejarazu |