Best things to do.. see at the end. + The Old Quarter (Casco Viejo, Siete Calles or, in Basque/Euskara, Kasco Zaharra Zazpi Kaleak) is not only 7 street and 2 squares. In fact, the Kasko is composed of more than 40 streets and half a dozen squares, all pedestrian. This area has more than 7 centuries old (when the settlement was entitled as Villa) so the space is quite limited and the streets are not wide; this is the medieval origin of the Villa. Some names of the streets still remember the guilds that worked there: butchers, artisans, shops' street... Euskaltzaindia is the name of the Institution that watches over the Basque Language, the grammar, rules, etc. + Santiago's Cathedral has NONE entrance in the North. The main door and facade are West-oriented, there's another one facing South and one to the claustro (Puerta del Ángel/Door of the Angel) looking East. I don't know what the ffff said about an swastika in the cathedral... The only thing closest is the (google it) lauburu (a sort of wind rose, a Celtic representation of N.E.W.S. points). I can't remember any in the cathedral... + There are not rowing boats in Doña Casilda Park + Zubizuri Bridge is only useful as scenery in photos... Is the worst "thing" in Bilbao with a huge difference with the next one. Architect Calatrava is unable to end a project in optimal conditions: slippery glass bridges, Auditorium with leaks and without emergency exits, buildings with falling pieces, turning tower that never turn... And topping all that he multiplied every budget 10 times. This bridge is not a pride but a shame. + On the other hand we have non least than 7 projects/buildings by Pritzker winning architects and a bunch of historical building from medieval times to today with Gothic, Baroque, Modernist, Eclectic... + While crossing Bilbao, the Nervión river is already an estuary. That's why we call it "ría", the female form for "river" wich means estuary. The most famous in Spain are the Rias Baixas in Galizia. + Wonder if you are watching a video of top tourist attractions in London and the number 3 is Manchester... San Sebastian/Donostia is another of the 3 Basque capitals along with Vitoria/Gasteiz in Spanish lands. And I wrote "Spanish lands" because the Basque Country is as well behind the frontier with France: the French-Basque Country, País Vascofrancés or Iparralde. The stupidly forgotten: + FOOD! the Basque Cuisine is famous all around the world. You can enjoy a dinner in one of various Michelin starred restaurants, try a delicious set menu for less of 20 € or go from bar to bar trying the famous pintxos. Not tapas, please, PIN-TXOS ( /'pin ʧos/, 'peen-chos) + Bilbao Museum, or Fine Arts Museum, is in my opinion the best museum in the city. Now is having a big refurbishment and growing in space by the hand of Norman Foster. + El Ensanche is the "new city". It's full of little places, parks, shops, commercial activities, restaurants, bars and lots of beautiful buildings. + Festivals! One of the famous Music Festivals in Europe is here, Bilbao BBK Live takes place during 3 days in the top of a mountain, among trees and with views to the city and the Ría. There's a new FREE access Bilbao Blues Festival in the city centre. And we have a terror cinema one, another for theatre and street performances, an Opera Season...
Bilbao , Basque city, from Basque Country.
Best things to do.. see at the end.
+ The Old Quarter (Casco Viejo, Siete Calles or, in Basque/Euskara, Kasco Zaharra Zazpi Kaleak) is not only 7 street and 2 squares. In fact, the Kasko is composed of more than 40 streets and half a dozen squares, all pedestrian. This area has more than 7 centuries old (when the settlement was entitled as Villa) so the space is quite limited and the streets are not wide; this is the medieval origin of the Villa. Some names of the streets still remember the guilds that worked there: butchers, artisans, shops' street...
Euskaltzaindia is the name of the Institution that watches over the Basque Language, the grammar, rules, etc.
+ Santiago's Cathedral has NONE entrance in the North. The main door and facade are West-oriented, there's another one facing South and one to the claustro (Puerta del Ángel/Door of the Angel) looking East.
I don't know what the ffff said about an swastika in the cathedral... The only thing closest is the (google it) lauburu (a sort of wind rose, a Celtic representation of N.E.W.S. points). I can't remember any in the cathedral...
+ There are not rowing boats in Doña Casilda Park
+ Zubizuri Bridge is only useful as scenery in photos... Is the worst "thing" in Bilbao with a huge difference with the next one. Architect Calatrava is unable to end a project in optimal conditions: slippery glass bridges, Auditorium with leaks and without emergency exits, buildings with falling pieces, turning tower that never turn... And topping all that he multiplied every budget 10 times. This bridge is not a pride but a shame.
+ On the other hand we have non least than 7 projects/buildings by Pritzker winning architects and a bunch of historical building from medieval times to today with Gothic, Baroque, Modernist, Eclectic...
+ While crossing Bilbao, the Nervión river is already an estuary. That's why we call it "ría", the female form for "river" wich means estuary. The most famous in Spain are the Rias Baixas in Galizia.
+ Wonder if you are watching a video of top tourist attractions in London and the number 3 is Manchester... San Sebastian/Donostia is another of the 3 Basque capitals along with Vitoria/Gasteiz in Spanish lands. And I wrote "Spanish lands" because the Basque Country is as well behind the frontier with France: the French-Basque Country, País Vascofrancés or Iparralde.
The stupidly forgotten:
+ FOOD! the Basque Cuisine is famous all around the world. You can enjoy a dinner in one of various Michelin starred restaurants, try a delicious set menu for less of 20 € or go from bar to bar trying the famous pintxos. Not tapas, please, PIN-TXOS ( /'pin ʧos/, 'peen-chos)
+ Bilbao Museum, or Fine Arts Museum, is in my opinion the best museum in the city. Now is having a big refurbishment and growing in space by the hand of Norman Foster.
+ El Ensanche is the "new city". It's full of little places, parks, shops, commercial activities, restaurants, bars and lots of beautiful buildings.
+ Festivals! One of the famous Music Festivals in Europe is here, Bilbao BBK Live takes place during 3 days in the top of a mountain, among trees and with views to the city and the Ría.
There's a new FREE access Bilbao Blues Festival in the city centre. And we have a terror cinema one, another for theatre and street performances, an Opera Season...