Overview
From a small shipbuilding port, Bilbao has gone through
several transformations before becoming such an alluring
tourist destination today. As a matter of fact, the
financial capital of the Basque Country and the nation's
biggest port is now regarded as one of the most irresistible
holiday oases in the north of Spain, thanks in part to the
opening of the Guggenheim Museum in the late 90's whose
extraordinary structure works wonder as a tourist magnet.
The Basque culture in this burgeoning cosmopolitan with some
340,000 residents is intense and is easily perceptible from
the language on road signs, the gratifying local gastronomy
which warrants satisfaction, and the vehemence with which
the locals observe and uphold their heritage. Cultural
attractions aside, Bilbao's plenitude of some of the
country's best nightlife spots makes it a very inviting
destination indeed.
History
Bilbao was once a tiny port town where a petty number of
residents looked after their own business. That rural image
began to change in 1315 when Bilbao was opened up to trades
with other European cities under Alfonso XI's decree. By the
late 15th century the port became a thriving urban with
rapidly growing inhabitants, but it also suffered a series
of social disturbances from 1631 up to the Spanish Civil War
in 1936. The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century had
accelerated the second growth of Bilbao although it brought
along pollution and perpetually smoking chimneys as well. At
any rate, by the 80's things began to change as the
Bilbaínos came up with a plan to re-invent their habitat and
introduce tourism services, and the completion of the
Guggenheim Museum in 1997 has greatly expedited that
much-anticipated growth.
Geography & Climate
Bilbao is a seaport city set on the Nervión River, near the
Bay of Biscay and on the southwestern border of France. It
is the capital city of the Vizcaya province, which, together
with Guipuzcoa and Alava, form the provinces of the
semi-autonomous Basque Country (or Euskadi) in the north of
Spain. The topography of the region is a combination of a
rugged coastland and fertile wet jungle. Due to its
geographical location and the ocean's influence, Bilbao's
climate is a humid oceanic type with mild temperatures
throughout the year and frequent showers in spring and fall.
The average temperature is 20°C in summer and 8°C in winter.
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SUGGESTED HOTELS |
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Lopez De Haro - A Luxury Property Located 11
Kilometers From The Bilbao International
Airport. Opened In 1990, The Hotel Lopez Of Haro
Is In The Center Of Bilbao And Exudes Great
Luxury And Elegance. This Hotel Is Only 100
Meters From Guggenheim Museum And 500 Meters
From The Music Congress Palace. Providing Easy
Access By Highway.
Silken Gran Hotel Domine - A Luxury Hotel
Located Eight Kilometers From Bilbao Airport. An
Outstanding And Inviting Property, This Hotel Is
The Best Place To Call Home While Traveling On
Business Or Pleasure.
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