Spain, Bilbao

Bilbao, sometimes referred to as Bilbo (another Basque variant), 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.

Geography

A major seaport and industrial centre, the city is located on the river Nervión, and its suburbs extend to the Bay of Biscay.

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.

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 one or two days.

History

Bilbao was founded 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"). 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 have the same ending that could be Basque aho, "mouth".

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, remarkably 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.

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.