Geography > Europe > Spain > Basque Country > Biscay

Cityscape of Bilbao, with the Guggenheim Museum on the bottom right

Bilbao (Basque: Bilbo) is a city in northern Spain, the largest city in the Pais Vasco and the capital of the province of Vizcaya (Basque: Bizkaia). A major seaport and industrial centre, it 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 2000 estimates. Population of the metropolitan area (urban area plus satellite towns) was 947,000 as of 2003 estimates, ranking as the sixth_largest metropolitan area of Spain. As of 2004, the mayor of Bilbao is Iñaki Azkuna.

The city has recently undergone major urban renewal centred around the new metro system by Sir Norman Foster (see List of Bilbao metro stations) and, most of all, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao by Frank Gehry. A new tram (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 Euskalduna Palace and the Santiago Calatrava designed Zubi-Zuri Bridge. A major landmark tower, designed by Cesar Pelli, to house the Basque government will also be built and there are ambitious plans to regenerate the peninsula on the river known as Zorrozaurre.

It is the home city of the football team Athletic Club Bilbao, who play at the San Mames stadium

External link

You can get more info in Bilbao's official web page: http://www.bilbao.net