BILBAO

'Bilbao', (''Bilbo'' in Basque), in the North of Spain, is the largest city in the Basque Country and the capital of the province of Biscay (Basque: ''Bizkaia'').
The city has over 354,000 inhabitants (2006) and is the most economically and industrially active part of Greater Bilbao, the zone in which almost half of the Basque Country’s population lives. Greater Bilbao’s 946,829 inhabitants are spread along the length of the Nervion River, whose banks are home also to numerous business and factories, which during the industrial revolution brought heightened prosperity to the region.

Contents

Geography

Districts

Climate

History

1300-1600

1600-1900

The 20th century

Regeneration and renewal

Tourism and monuments

Museums

Churches

Civil buildings

Economy

Population

Decreasing population

Immigration

Infrastructure and transportation

Road

Underground

Bus

Rail

Airport

By sea

Transportation links

Sports

Sister cities

Famous people from Bilbao

External links

Geography

A major seaport and industrial centre, the city 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 2006 estimates. Population of the urban area was 935,000 as of 2004 estimates. Population of the metropolitan area or Greater Bilbao (urban area plus satellite towns) was 947,000 as of 2003 estimates, ranking as the sixth-largest metropolitan area of Spain. As of 2007, the mayor of Bilbao is Iñaki Azkuna.
In the north, Bilbao’s city edge is considered to be around the towns of Erandio, Sondika and Derio, in the east it is encompassed by Zamudio and Etxebarri. The southern border passes outside Basauri and Arrigorriaga and in the west, Barakaldo and Alonsotegi are the furthest extremes. The urban area is enclosed by two small mountain ranges called Pagasarri (to the south) and Artxanda (to the north), this fact gives the city its nickname, "''el botxo''", "the hole".

Districts

The city of Bilbao is divided into eight different districts, including the following neighbourhoods:


★ '1st District' ''(Deusto)'': Deusto, San Ignacio, Ibarrekolanda, Arangoiti, Ribera de Deusto/Zorrozaurre

★ '2nd District' ''(Uribarri)'': Uribarri, Matiko, Castaños, Zurbaranbarri and Ciudad Jardin

★ '3rd District' ''(Otxarkoaga-Txurdinaga)'': Otxarkoaga and Txurdinaga

★ '4th District' ''(Begoña)'': Begoña, Santutxu and Bolueta

★ '5th District' ''(Ibaiondo)'': Casco Viejo, Bilbao La Vieja, San Francisco, Zabala, Atxuri, Iturrialde, Solokoetxe, Abusu and the newly developed neighbourhood of Miribilla.

★ '6th District' ''(Abando)'': Abando and Indautxu.

★ '7th District' ''(Rekalde)'': Rekalde, El Peñascal, Ametzola, Iralabarri and San Adrián,

★ '8th District' ''(Basurto-Zorrotza)'': Basurto, Altamira, Masustegi, Olabeaga and Zorrotza.

Climate

Bilbao has an oceanic climate, generally mild, with not too extreme temperatures. January average temperature is 9ºC and July average 21ºC. Precipitation is around 1200mm per year, almost entirely rain, although every winter it snows three days on average [1].

Extreme heat is also common a few days each summer, mainly when strong winds from the south blow through the mountains and temperatures rise because of the Föhn wind.
Extreme record observations in Bilbao are '42.0ºC' maximum (July 26 1947) and '- 8.6ºC' minimum (February 3 1963). The maximum precipitation in a day was '225.6 mm' in August 261983 when severe flooding was originated by the Nervion River.
[2]

Temperature averages (ºC) 1971 - 2000
' '	'Jan'	'Feb'	'Mar'	'Apr'	'May'	'Jun'	'Jul'	'Aug'	'Sep'	'Oct'	'Nov'	'Dec'	'Total'
Max	13	15	16	17	20	23	25	26	24	21	16	14	'19.1'
Min	5	5	6	7	10	13	15	15	13	11	8	6	'9.4'
Average	9	10	11	12	15	18	20	20	19	16	12	10	'14.3'
'Rain (mm)'	''126''	''97''	''94''	''124''	''90 ''	''64''	''62''	'' 82 ''	''74''	''121''	''141''	''116''	'''1191'''

History

Bilbao was founded as a village by ''Don Diego Lopez de Haro V'', Lord of Biscay, on 15 June 1300 on the opposite river bank of an existing fishing settlement (now known as ''Bilbao la Vieja'' or ''Bilbo Zarra'', "Old Bilbao").
Previouslly to the formally foundation of the town there was a town and port called "Bilbao" (that is named so in the proper charter of foundation of the village in 1300) that probably is based around an ancient wall recently (XII century) discoverded nearly the "San Anton" Bridge or earlier on the "Malmasin" promontory where is suggested to be the first settlement of Bilbao.
The name of the city has unclear origins, some think it may come from "''bel vado''", ancient Spanish for "''good river crossing''" while others say that it comes from Basque "''bi albo''" meaning "''two river banks''".
Nearby places like Sestao and Ugao-Miraballes have the same ending that could be Basque ''aho'', "mouth".

1300-1600

Don Diego gave the city rights and privileges along with land for growth. At first there were only three streets: Somera ("Upper"), Artekale ("middle street") and Tendería ("Shopkeeper's"), following the pattern of three parallel streets found in other Basque towns, and the Santiago church, surrounded by a city wall. Bilbao was in the northern branch of the Way of Saint James, thus the name of Santiago (''Saint James') church.
The city grew slowly but steadily, its area is now known as the "Seven streets", after the new parallel developments. The privileges conceded by the successive Lords of Biscay were resented, sometimes violently, by other chartered villas like Portugalete and by the unchartered villages.
In the 15th century wars between noble families disrupted the city, which had reached a population of almost 3000. Three floods and a fire shook the city, and Santiago Church was almost totally destroyed. But once again the city recovered and it grew beyond the wall.
In 1511 the Consulate of Bilbao was granted to the city by the Spanish Crown, this allowed Bilbao to be the main export port for Merino wool from Castile to the northern European cities, like Antwerpen. Bilbao became the most important commercial and financial hub of the Spanish north coast during the Spanish Empire era. The swords exported through Bilbao were known in England as "bilboes".

1600-1900

The following centuries saw a constant increase of the city's wealth, specially after the discovery of extensive iron resources in the surrounding hills. The 19th century's industrial revolution was crucial for Bilbao, with the developing of strong mining, steel and shipbuilding industries.

At the beginning of the 20th century Bilbao was the wealthiest city of Spain, where the main banks (BBVA) and insurance companies were established.
Bilbao was besieged four times by the Carlists during the Carlist Wars, but due to the defenders (the regular Spanish army and local Liberal volunteers), it was never conquered, as is recorded in the city's title ("undefeated").
In 1886 the University of Deusto was established by the Company of Jesus and a major plan for the city was announced after the village of Abando was annexed. The Achúcarro and Hoffmeyer "''Ensanche''" (extension) project of 1876 almost doubled the city's area and was developed during the following decades, as it happened in other cities like Barcelona at that time.

The 20th century

In 1925, the village of Deusto was annexed and several other parts of the city were developed including Basurto and Begoña.
Bilbao sided with the Republican Government in the Spanish Civil War and was the capital of the first Basque Autonomous Government led by José Antonio Aguirre. A defensive ring, called "''Cinturón de Hierro''" (''Iron Belt'') was built around the city , with heavy artillery and a good number of bunkers linked by kilometers of tunnels. Despite all the efforts in June 19 1937 Bilbao succumbed to Franco's troops' siege, the bridges were destroyed but the city survived relatively intact.
In 1983 heavy floods struck the city, killing many people in the province and causing great damage to the old part of the city; the old Arriaga Theater was devastated. Since then the "Casco Viejo" (the old district) has been renewed, along with the general trend of renewal seen all around the city.

Regeneration and renewal

The city has recently undergone major urban renewal, in order to move away from the region’s industrial history and instead focus on tourism and services. The developments are centered around the new metro system by Sir Norman Foster (see Metro Bilbao) and, most of all, the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum by Frank Gehry. A new tram line(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 Santiago Calatrava- designed Zubizuri Bridge and the Euskalduna Palace, a cultural centre, further downstream. The two points are linked by a new riverside passageway opposite University of Deusto, which provides an open green space for the city’s inhabitants to relax.
A major landmark tower, designed by César Pelli, to house the Iberdrola electric company will also be built and there are ambitious plans to regenerate the peninsula on the river known as Zorrozaurre.

★ Bilbao Ria 2000 Regeneration of the Metropolitan Bilbao

★ Bilbao Metropoli 30

★ Euskalduna Congress Centre

Tourism and monuments

As well as the famous Guggenheim Museum, the city acts as home for the Fine Arts Museum recognised as one of Spain’s finest art museums and recently refurbished) and the Maritime Museum on the Nervion’s banks, which recently hosted the RMS ''Titanic'' exhibition which has been touring Europe. Museums are only a part of the city's attractions.
Since the inauguration of the Guggenheim museum in 1997, eight new hotels have been opened in the city, reflecting the increasing interest for the city.
Bilbao was briefly featured at the start of the 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.
The Bilbao Live Festival, initiated in 2006, is another measure of new interest.

★ City Hall's Tourism site



===Old Town or "Casco Viejo"===

Museums

★ Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

★ Fine Arts Museum

★ Basque Museum

★ Maritime Museum

Churches

★ Santiago Cathedral

★ Saint Anton church

★ Basilica of Begoña

★ Saint Nicholas of Bari church

★ Santos Juanes church

★ Saint Vincent church

Civil buildings

★ Arriaga Theater

★ Bizkaia Delegation Palace

★ City Hall

★ Chavarri Palace (Moyúa square)

★ Plaza Nueva

★ Ribera Market

★ San Mamés Stadium

★ University of Deusto

★ Zubizuri Bridge

Economy

Greater Bilbao is the Basque Country's most important economic area and one of Spain's most important. In this area are located several key industrial sectors: steel, energy production, machine tool, aeronautics industry, electronics and IT. The municipality of Bilbao has been an industrial one for decades, but the heavier industries have been moved from the city center to the periphery and the city has centered its activities in the services sector which accounts for the 75’5% of the city's added value. The GNP per capita is 19,648€ (FY 2000), slightly above the average of the Basque Country and well above the average of Spain. The city is the corporate seat of the BBVA bank and Iberdrola electric company.
The International Trade Fair, now ''Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC)'' hosts many international level exhibitions, specially the ''Bianual Machine Tool Fair (BIEMH)'', that help dynamizing the economic life. On top of BEC, Bilbao has the Euskalduna Palace as a congress center.
The port of Bilbao is the most important one in the north of Spain and one of the most important in the Bay of Biscay. In 2005,the port moved 36.8 million tonnes, being the fourth port of Spain after Algeciras, Barcelona and Valencia.

Population

Historical populations
'Census year'	'Population'
1842	10,243
1860	17,969
1877	35,227
1887	51,314
1897	74,076
1900	81,956
1910	92,116
1920	115,014
1930	156,920
1940	192,351
1950	216,417
1960	294,174
1970	405,908
1981	433,115
1991	369,839
2001	349,972
2003	353,173
2006	354,145

In 1970, it was the sixth most populated city in Spain, with roughly 410,000 inhabitants, and the third-highest ranked metropolitan area. In 1981, population reached 433,115. This was the highest level for several years as the population began to decrease, in 2003, Bilbao’s official figures counted 353,173 inhabitants.
The population decline intensified when surrounding towns of Bilbao that were annexed during the 1940s and 1960's regained independence. Such is the case of towns like Erandio, Loiu, Derio, Sondika and Zamudio. That has led to a bigger decrease in population.
[3]

Decreasing population

Whilst the overall region’s population continues to climb, the city centre has noticed a drop in residents. This is a result of the steady and seemingly unbreakable trend of the city’s people flocking to the coastlines which has been underway since the 1990s, caused mainly by high real-estate prices in Bilbao. Bilbao is one of the most expensive cities in Spain, fourth most expensive after Madrid, Barcelona and San Sebastian.
Industrialised areas have been left in favour of the coast. In fact, of the 18 towns around Bilbao with more than 10,000 inhabitants, only eight - Amorebieta, Arrigorriaga, Durango, Gernika, Getxo, Leioa, Mungia and Sopelana – have increased their number of inhabitants. Sestao has been worst hit, losing nearly 11% of its population in eight years.

Immigration

Since 2001, the number of immigrants in the city has risen steadily each year as a result of increasing migration into Spain. In 2000, 2% of Bilbao's population consisted of immigrants, but this currently stands at 6.7%. As of 2006, there were 23,762 immigrants in the city. This has helped to reverse the falls in population.
Inmigration is mainly based in the old part of the city at neighborhoods such as San Francisco, Bilbao La Vieja and the Seven Streets (''Casco Viejo''). There are also some neighborhoods with inmigration rates above the average, Arangoiti, Uribarri, Errekalde, and Ametzola.
[4]

Infrastructure and transportation

Road

The city has 13 bridges connecting both sides of the river, it is connected to the European road network and the north of Spain by the A-8 motorway and to the rest of Spain by the A-68 motorway.

Underground

The underground network (Metro Bilbao), inaugurated in 1995, is used by more than 78 million passengers every year. It has 2 lines that connect both banks of the Bilbao Metropolitan Area. There is a project under way to build a third line.

Bus

The city has 43 ''Bilbobus'' bus lines, 28 for normal buses, seven "micro-buses" for zones of the city that a normal bus can't access, and eight night lines. The inner-city bus network has recently won a prize for its efficiency and quality of service. In addition, there are more than 100 BizkaiBus bus lines, connecting Bilbao with almost every point in Biscay and part of Alava.

Rail

The Spanish state railway network operates four commuter rail lines from the city. Renfe ''(Spanish Railway Network)'' has 3 ''Cercanías'' lines in metropolitan Bilbao; Bilbao-Orduña, Bilbao-Santurtzi and Bilbao-Muskiz. FEVE ''(Spanish Narrow Gauge Railways)'' has one; Bilbao-Balmaseda.
The Basque railway network, EuskoTren, runs three lines; Bilbao-Lezama, Bilbao-Ermua and Bilbao-Bermeo.
In 2002, the new tramway, EuskoTran, was inaugurated. It has one line connecting Atxuri with Basurto. Plans are afoot to greatly expand the network over the coming decade.

Airport

A new airport terminal was opened in 2000, expanding the capacity of the former facility, and allowing growth in tourism fuelled by low-cost flights by airlines such as easyJet and Vueling. The airport handled nearly 4 million passengers in 2006.

By sea

A P&O ferry service links Santurtzi, near Bilbao, to Portsmouth (UK). The ''Pride of Bilbao'' ferry departs from the port of Bilbao, 15 km west of the city centre. A service operated by Acciona Trasmediterranea served the same route from May 16 2006 until April 2007.

Transportation links

★ Metro Bilbao ★ Euskotran, Tramway ★ Bizkaibus ★ Bilbobus

★ Euskotren ★ Renfe Cercanias - Bilbao ★ FEVE ★ Bilbao Transport Consortium

Sports

'Club'	'Sport'	'League'	'Venue'	'Logo'
Athletic Club de Bilbao	Football	Spanish 1st division	San Mamés stadium	logo
Lagun Aro Bilbao Basket	Basketball	Spanish ACB league	La Casilla pavilion

Sister cities

★ 'Buenos Aires', Argentina ★ 'Rosario', Argentina ★ 'Medellín', Colombia ★ 'Bordeaux', France

★ 'Qingdao', Shandong, People's Republic of China ★ 'Tbilisi', Georgia ★ 'Pittsburgh', Pennsylvania, United States ★ 'Sant Adrià de Besòs', Spain ★ 'Iloilo', Philippines

Famous people from Bilbao

★ Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga, classical composer. ★ Sabino Arana, politician from Abando. ★ Miguel de Unamuno , writer and philosopher. ★ Evaristo de Churruca y Brunet, engineer. ★ José de Mazarredo, admiral of the Spanish Navy. ★ Alberto Palacio, architect and engineer. ★ Gabriel Aresti, poet. ★ Aurelio Arteta, painter. ★ Jesús Guridi, composer. ★ Don Diego de Gardoqui, diplomat

★ Joaquín Almunia , politician. ★ Kepa Junkera , folk composer. ★ Álex de la Iglesia , movie director. ★ Rafael Alkorta , football player. ★ Blas de Otero, poet. ★ Amaya Uranga, singer of Mocedades. ★ Juan de Recalde, Vice-Admiral of the Spanish Armada. ★ Espido Freire, writer. ★ Bartolomé Ferrelo, sailor.

External links

★ Bilbao's official web page

★ Bilbao's Chamber of Commerce official tourism website on the city and surrounding areas

★

★ Bilbao in Google Maps

★ BILBAO in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa)

★ Skyscraperpage.com Bilbao's skyscraper diagram

★ Bilbao Exhibition Centre

★ Bilbao Weather Forecast

★ The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) is based in Bilbao (see also European Agency for Safety and Health at Work)