Bilbao
Bilbao is the capital of the Biscay Province in Spain. It covers an area of twenty-five square miles and has a population of over three hundred and fifty thousand residents. Bilbao is a seaport and major industrial center. The city is bordered by Erandio to the north, Zamudio to the east, Basauri to the south and Barakaldo to the west. The city is flanked by two mountain ranges called the Pagasarri and the Artxanda. The city enjoys an oceanic climate with average winter temperatures hovering around nine degrees Celsius and the average summer temperature hovering around twenty-one degrees Celsius. Average annual rainfall in the city is about forty-seven inches per year.
Bilbao can trace its history back to a small village founded by Don Diego Lopez de Haro V, Lord of Biscay in the fourteenth century. Don Diego granted the city privileges and an ample amount of land for its expansion. The city grew at a slow, but steady pace and by the fifteenth century, the city had a population of almost three thousand people. In the seventeenth century, Bilbao was made the capital of the Biscay Province. Over the next few centuries, the city saw an exponential increase in its wealth and prosperity after iron ore was discovered in the surrounding mountains. Today, Bilbao has seen a major period of renewal and the city has steered its economy away from industrialization and towards the tourism sector. One of the primary attractions in Bilbao is the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a museum dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of contemporary and modern art. Artist featured in its extensive collection include Sigmar Polke, Andy Warhol, Susana Solano, Sergio Prego, Dario Urzay, Aitor Ortiz, Richard Serra, Juan Luis Moraza, Clyfford Still, Cy Twombly, Mark Rothko and Julian Schnabel.
Another museum in the city is the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum
is known for its extensive collection of works which range from the twelfth century to the present day. It has more than six thousand paintings, sculptures, engravings and decorative objects. Works in its collection include the “Village Girl with Red Carnation” by Adolfo Guiard, “The Virgin with the Child Jesus and the Child St. John” by Francisco de Zurbarán, “Figures in a Landscape” by Alberto Sánchez, “Lamentation over the Dead Christ” by Anton Van Dyck, “Portrait of Philip II” by Anthonis van Dashort, “Pieta at the Foot of the Cross” by Ambrosius Benson, “The Bridge at Burcena” by Aurelio Arteta, “Landscape with Palace or Architectural Capriccio with Palace” by Bernardo Bellotto, “Head of Christ” by Francisco Durrio, “The Virgin with the Child Jesus and the Child St. John” by Francisco de Zurbaran, “Burlesque Feast” by Jan Mandijn, “Basket of Flowers” by Juan de Arellano, “Woman seated with a child in her arms” by Mary Cassatt, “On the Game” by Jose Gutierrez Solana, “Saint Ana, the Virgin and Child” by Michel Erhart, “Washerwomen in Arles” by Paul Gauguin, “Kabuki Actor as Wood cutter” by Utagawa Kunisada and “Lot and his Daughters” by Orazio Gentileschi.
A popular attraction in Bilbao is the Basilica of Begona. The Basilica of Begona is a church that is dedicated to the patron saint of Biscay called the Virgin Begona. The basilica was originally founded during the sixteenth century and was designed by architect Sancho Martínez de Arego. This basilica features three seventeenth century naves. It is designed in the Gothic style and was worked on over the course of several hundred years. During the nineteenth century, it was damaged because of it forming a part of the city’s wall. Part of the exterior was restored and a tower was added in 1907 by Jose María Basterra. A clock tower was added in 1922, and bell manufacturers in Switzerland were hired to construct the bells. The clock tower contains twenty-four bells, with the largest weighing well over a ton. These bells are capable of producing seven distinct melodies. During World War II, a bomb exploded outside one of its doors and several people were hurt. This incident was blamed on the falangists and as a result, fangalist Juan Jose Domínguez was executed in retribution for the bombing. Over the course of the last few decades, major restoration and repair of the basilica has been undertaken on a continuous basis. Several different festivals take place at this basilica. The major one commemorates the Assumption of Mary and takes place on August 15. The second festival occurs on St. Begona’s Day, which is October 11. These two festivals are usually celebrated with a midnight mass. Another prominent church in the city is Santiago Cathedral. Santiago Cathedral is a Catholic church that attained cathedral status in 1950, but whose origins go all the way back to the fourteenth century. Its main temple is dedicated to the apostle Saint James the Great. James in Spanish is Santiago. This cathedral is a splended mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles.
San Mames Stadium is a football stadium that is located in the city of Bilbao. This stadium was built in 1913 and is one of the oldest stadiums in all of Spain. The stadium can seat over forty thousand people, but plans are in the works to increase the seating capacity to almost sixty thousand people. San Mames Stadium is currently home to the Athletic Bilbao. The Athletic Bilbao is also known as the Lions of San Mames. This term is used in reference to them because the stadium is near San Mames Church. St. Mames, whom the church is named after, was a Christian who was thrown into the lion pits by the Romans. When the lions refused to consume him, he was made a saint. Currently in the works is a stadium that is going to be called the New San Mames Stadium.
Other prominent attractions in the city include Bilbao City Hall, Arriaga Theater, University of Deusto, Chavarri Palace, Bizkaia Delegation Palace, Plaza Nueva, Moyua square, Ribera Market, Saint Anton Church, Saint Nicholas of Bari Church, Santos Juanes Church, Saint Vincent Church, Artxanda Funicular, Zubizuri bridge and Dona Casilda de Iturrizar park. Bilbao is also home to a large number of fantastic restaurants, cafes and hotels.
