The main bulevard in Leioa (Looking south towards Bilbao).

Leioa is a municipality in Vizcaya, Basque Country. In northern Spain. Today it is part of grater Bilbao, and it is the name of a metro station stop in the city metro. Its population stands at approximately 28.400. During Generalissimo Francisco Franco's reign, it was known in Spanish as Lejona.

History

It was a village with no more than a 3000 people until fifty years ago, when developement came its way, as Bilbao expanded. Today with a rapidly increasing population it is becoming part of metropolitan Bilbao.

Features

The municipality of Leioa still retains much of its agricultural past and out of the urban centre many traditional basque houses can still be seen on little family farms. Though rapid developement puts their long term future in question. EHU/UPV Euskal Herriko Unibertzitatea/Universidad del Pais Vasco, has most faculties within this municipality. Related topics: List of municipalities in Vizcaya, Bilbao