Bilbao is the heart of Biscayia, within the borders of the free-spirited Basque Country. It is formally part of Spain, but its own flavor is so bright that you can bend another finger when counting the countries of your travels. Bilbao is one of those cities that seems to have been created to be a tourist center: it concentrates sights from different eras, the weather is good all year round, and restaurants and beaches beckon to the pleasures of life.
The river Nervion divides the city into two conceptually different parts: on the one hand, the old town, frozen in its eternal beauty, and on the other, the architectural madness and changing trends of the present. Casco Viejo - the historic center, also called "Seven Streets" - is a completely pedestrian zone. And it's hard to imagine traffic on these narrow, always busy streets. Here, as in centuries past, the traditional handicrafts of ceramics and leather boil, national cuisine is served, and nightlife never ceases. And above all, there are the enduring cultural treasures: the Cathedral of Santiago, the Church of San Anton, the Arriaga Theater, the Arenal Gardens, and the ruins of the medieval fortress walls. The list goes on with endless palaces and mansions - let's face it, every building in Casco Viejo is a landmark.
The list of the brightest "celebrities" of the modern part of Bilbao should start with the Guggenheim Museum. This is especially the case when a unique collection of XX century paintings is housed in a worthy shell. Frank Gehry's deconstructivist masterpiece is not to be missed or forgotten. Another impressive structure, Alondiga, is a real vacation that will always be with you. A giant entertainment center with special effects such as a swimming pool above visitors' heads, it turns recreation into high art.
What do Bilbao's old and new have in common? Bridges! The ultra-modern, sleek to the point of weightlessness Subisuri and the ancient, monumental San Antón will delight guests within the city limits. The local wonder, a UNESCO site, the Biscay Bridge over the Nervion, with a flying ferry, is also shown to guests on tours outside the city.
