Bilbao

Encyclopedia : B : BI : BIL : Bilbao

Bilbao cityscape with the Guggenheim at the low center.

City Flag and Coat of Arms
Location in Spain
General Information
Autonomous community:	Basque Country
Province:	Biscay
Postal code:	48001-48013
Area code:	34 (Spain) + 94 (Bilbao)
Homepage:	[www.bilbao.net]
Nickname:	"El Botxo'"
Demonym:	"Bilbaino - a (Spanish)"
	"Bilbotarra (Basque)"
Politics
Mayor	Iñaki Azkuna (PNV)
Population
Population:	354,000 (2003) 946,829 met. area
- rank in Spain:	10   (Met. area: 6)
Population density:	8,615/km²
Geography
Area:	41,3 km²
Location:	43,15° n.   2,58° w.
Altitude	19 m AMSL
Highest point:	673 m AMSL (mount Pagasarri)
Administrative Structure
Districts:	8
Neighbourhoods:	36

Partial view of Bilbao from Artxanda hill, 6th and 7th districts.

Bilbao (Basque: Bilbo) 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 350,000 inhabitants (2004) and is the most economically and industrially active part of Gran Bilbao, the zone in which almost half of the Basque Country’s population lives. Gran 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.

Geography

A major seaport and industrial centre, the city is located on the river Nervión, and its suburbs extend to the Bay of Biscay. Population of the city of Bilbao proper was 354,000 as of 2003 estimates. Population of the urban area was 935,000 as of 2004 estimates. Population of the metropolitan area or Gran Bilbao (urban area plus satellite towns) was 947,000 as of 2003 estimates, ranking as the sixth-largest metropolitan area of Spain. As of 2006, the mayor of Bilbao is Iñaki Azkuna.

In the north, Bilbao’s city edge is considered to be around the towns of Erandio, Sondika and Derio, in the east it is encompassed by Zamudio and Etxebarri. The southern border passes outside Basauri and Arrigorriaga and in the west, Barakaldo and Alonsotegi are the furthest extremes.

Districts

The city of Bilbao is divided in eight different districts, including the following neighbourhoods:

Location of the urban districts and some major neighbourhoods

• 1st District (Deusto): Deusto, San Inazio, Ibarrekolanda, Arangoiti, Zorrotzaurre
• 2nd District (Uribarri): Uribarri, Matiko, Castaños, Zurbaranbarri and Ciudad Jardin
• 3rd District (Otxarkoaga-Txurdinaga): Otxarkoaga and Txurdinaga
• 4th District (Begoña): Begoña, Santutxu and Bolueta
• 5th District (Ibaiondo): Zazpikaleak, Bilbo Zarra, San Frantzisko, Zabala, Atxuri, Iturrialde, Solokoetxe, Abusu and the newly developed neighbourhood of Miribilla.
• 6th District (Abando): Abando and Indautxu.
• 7th District (Errekalde): Errekalde, Peñascal, Ametzola, Irala and San Adrian,
• 8th District (Basurtu-Zorrotza): Basurto, Altamira, Masustegi, Olabeaga and Zorrotza.

Climate

Bilbao has an oceanic climate, generally mild, with not too extreme temperatures. January average temperature is 9ºC and July average 21ºC. Precipitations reach around 1200mm per year, almost entirely rain, although every winter it snows one or two days. Extreme heat is also common a few days each summer, mainly when strong winds from the south blow through the mountains and temperatures rise because of the Föhn wind.[link]

Blizzard in Bilbao, jan 1985

Temperature averages (ºC)
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
Max	13º	14º	16º	17º	19º	22º	25º	24º	21º	21º	17º	14º	18.6º
Min	6º	6º	7º	8º	11º	14º	16º	16º	14º	12º	9º	7º	10.5º
Average	9º	11º	11º	12º	16º	18º	21º	21º	19º	16º	13º	11º	14.5º
Rain (mm)	126	97	94	124	90	64	62	82	74	121	141	116	1191

History

Bilbao in 1575.

Bilbao's Cathedral of Santiago.

Bilbao was founded by Don Diego Lopez de Haro on 15 June 1300 in the place of an existing fishing settlement. Don Diego gave the city rights and privileges along with land for growth. At first there were only three streets: Somera, Artekale and Tenderia, 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.

1300-1600

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 wool from Castille 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.

1600-1900

In 1886 the University of Deusto was established and a major plan for the city was announced after the village of Abando was annexed. The "Ensanche" (extension) project almost doubled the city's area and was developed during the following decades, as it happened in other cities like Barcelona at that time.

The 20th century

The beautiful Teatro Arriaga opera house.

In 1921, 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 "Cinturon 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, remarkably 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.

Regeneration and renewal

Euskalduna Palace, one of the major developments in the former industrial district of Abandoibarra, which is now characterised by parks, residential buildings and landmarks such as the Guggenheim Museum.

The city has recently undergone major urban renewal, in order to move away from the region’s industrial history and instead focus on tourism and services. The developments are centred around the new metro system by Sir Norman Foster (see Metro Bilbao) and, most of all, the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum by Frank Gehry. A new tram line(EuskoTran) was introduced in 2002. The Port of Bilbao, formerly on the river, has been moved and expanded downstream on the Bay of Biscay, opening a great deal of central real estate on the river that has been the site of most of the new building. Other new landmarks include the Santiago Calatrava- designed Zubizuri Bridge and the Euskalduna Palace, a cultural centre, further downstream. The two points are linked by a new riverside passageway opposite University of Deusto, which provides an open green space for the city’s inhabitants to relax.

A major landmark tower, designed by César Pelli, to house the Iberdrola electric company will also be built and there are ambitious plans to regenerate the peninsula on the river known as Zorrozaurre.

• [Bilbao Ria 2000 Regeneration of the Metropolitan Bilbao]
• [Bilbao Metropoli 30]
• [Euskalduna Congress Centre]

Tourism and Monuments

The new Calatrava bridge, Zubizuri.

Bilbao is a bubbling city with a good selection of hotels and restaurants surrounded by beautiful countryside and high interest for visitors.

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. These only represent a small portion of what the city has to offer.

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.

• [City Hall's Tourism site]

The internationally acclaimed Guggenheim Museum.

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

Fine Arts Museum.

Civil buildings

• Arriaga Theater
• City Hall
• Plaza Nueva
• University of Deusto
• Chavarri Palace
• Bizkaia Delegation Palace
• Zubizuri Bridge
• San Mamés Stadium

Population

In 1970, it was the sixth most populated city in Spain, with roughly 410,000 inhabitants, and the third-highest ranked metropolitan area. In 1981, population reached 433,115. This was the highest level for several years as the population began to decrease, in 2003, Bilbao’s official figures counted 353,173 inhabitants.

However some parts annexed during the Franco dictatorship have gained independence. Such is the case of towns like Erandio, Loiu, Derio, Sondika and Zamudio. That has lead to a bigger decrease in population.

[link]

Decreasing population

Industrialised areas are been left in favour of the coast. In fact, of the 18 towns around Bilbao with more than 10,000 inhabitants, only eight - Amorebieta, Arrigorriaga, Durango, Gernika, Getxo, Leioa, Mungia and Sopelana – have increased their number of inhabitants. Sestao has been worst hit, losing nearly 11% of its population in eight years.d

Immigration

Since 2001, the number of immigrants in the city has risen steadily each year as a result of increasing migration into Spain. In 2000, 2% of Bilbao's population consisted of immigrants, but this currently stands at around 5%. As of 2005, there were 16,634 immigrants in the city. This has helped to reverse the falls in population.

[link]

Infrastructure and Transportation

The new tram going down Navarra street.

Bilbao-Loiu airport terminal.

Pride of Bilbao ferry.

Road

Underground

Bus

Rail

Airport

By sea

Transportation links

• [Metro Bilbao]
• [Euskotran, Tramway]
• [Bizkaibus]
• [Bilbobus]
• [Euskotren]
• [Renfe Cercanias - Bilbao]
• [FEVE]
• [Bilbao Transport Consortium]

Sports

San Mamés stadium, home of Athletic de Bilbao.

Club	Sport	League	Venue	Logo
Athletic Club de Bilbao	Football	Spanish 1st division	San Mamés stadium
Lagun Aro Bilbao Basket	Basketball	Spanish ACB league	La Casilla pavilion

Sister cities

• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Rosario, Argentina
• Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China

Tbilisi, Georgia

External links