Bilbao, sometimes referred to as Bilbo (another Basque variant), in the North of Spain, is the largest city in the Basque Country and the capital of the province of Biscay (Basque: Bizkaia). The city has over 354,000 inhabitants (2006) and is the most economically and industrially active part of Greater Bilbao, the zone in which almost half of the Basque Country’s population lives. Greater Bilbao’s 946,829 inhabitants are spread along the length of the Nervion River, whose banks are home also to numerous business and factories, which during the industrial revolution brought heightened prosperity to the region.
Bilbao history
Bilbao was founded by Don Diego Lopez de Haro V, Lord of Biscay, on 15 June 1300 on the opposite river bank of an existing fishing settlement (now known as Bilbao la Vieja or Bilbo Zarra, "Old Bilbao"). The name of the city has unclear origins, some think it may come from "bel vado", ancient Spanish for "good river crossing" while others say that it comes from Basque "bi albo" meaning "two river banks". Nearby places like Sestao and Ugao have the same ending that could be Basque aho, "mouth".
Don Diego gave the city rights and privileges along with land for growth. At first there were only three streets: Somera ("Upper"), Artekale ("middle street") and Tendería ("Shopkeeper's"), following the pattern of three parallel streets found in other Basque towns, and the Santiago church, surrounded by a city wall. Bilbao was in the northern branch of the Way of Saint James, thus the name of Santiago (Saint James') church.
The city grew slowly but steadily, its area is now known as the "Seven streets", after the new parallel developments. The privileges conceded by the successive Lords of Biscay were resented, sometimes violently, by other chartered villas like Portugalete and by the unchartered villages. In the 15th century wars between noble families disrupted the city, which had reached a population of almost 3000. Three floods and a fire shook the city, and Santiago Church was almost totally destroyed. But once again the city recovered and it grew beyond the wall.
In 1511 the Consulate of Bilbao was granted to the city by the Spanish Crown, this allowed Bilbao to be the main export port for Merino wool from Castile to the northern European cities, like Antwerpen. Bilbao became the most important commercial and financial hub of the Spanish north coast during the Spanish Empire era. The swords exported through Bilbao were known in England as "bilboes".
The following centuries saw a constant increase of the city's wealth, specially after the discovery of extensive iron resources in the surrounding hills. The 19th century's industrial revolution was crucial for Bilbao, with the developing of strong mining, steel and shipbuilding industries.
At the beginning of the 20th century Bilbao was the wealthiest city of Spain, where the main banks (BBVA) and insurance companies were established. Bilbao was besieged four times by the Carlists during the Carlist Wars, but due to the defenders (the regular Spanish army and local Liberal volunteers), it was never conquered, as is recorded in the city's title ("undefeated").
In 1886 the University of Deusto was established by the Company of Jesus and a major plan for the city was announced after the village of Abando was annexed. The Achúcarro and Hoffmeyer "Ensanche" (extension) project of 1876 almost doubled the city's area and was developed during the following decades, as it happened in other cities like Barcelona at that time.
In 1925, the village of Deusto was annexed and several other parts of the city were developed including Basurto and Begoña.
Bilbao sided with the Republican Government in the Spanish Civil War and was the capital of the first Basque Autonomous Government led by José Antonio Aguirre. A defensive ring, called "Cinturón de Hierro" (Iron Belt) was built around the city , with heavy artillery and a good number of bunkers linked by kilometers of tunnels. Despite all the efforts in June 19, 1937 Bilbao succumbed to Franco's troops' siege, the bridges were destroyed but the city survived relatively intact.
In 1983 heavy floods struck the city, killing many people in the province and causing great damage to the old part of the city; the old Arriaga Theater was devastated. Since then the "Casco Viejo" (the old district) has been renewed, along with the general trend of renewal seen all around the city.
Bilbao Tourism and monuments
As well as the famous Guggenheim Museum, the city acts as home for the Fine Arts Museum recognised as one of Spain’s finest art museums and recently refurbished) and the Maritime Museum on the Nervion’s banks, which recently hosted the RMS Titanic exhibition which has been touring Europe. Museums are only a part of the city's attractions.
Since the inauguration of the Guggenheim museum in 1997, eight new hotels have been opened in the city, reflecting the increasing interest for the city.
Bilbao was briefly featured at the start of the 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough
Museums
- Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
- Fine Arts Museum
- Basque Museum
- Maritime Museum
Churches
- Santiago Cathedral
- Saint Anton church
- Basilica of Begoña
- Saint Nicholas of Bari church
- Santos Juanes church
- Saint Vincent church
Civil buildings
- Arriaga Theater
- Bizkaia Delegation Palace
- City Hall
- Chavarri Palace (Moyúa square)
- Plaza Nueva
- Ribera Market
- San Mamés Stadium
- University of Deusto
- Zubizuri Bridge
Copyright manuele Ferlito 2009-2010