The city of Bilbao, situated in the north of Spain, is close to the coastline and beaches and is the largest and most lively city in the Basque Country. It is a particularly historic city, with a legacy of old buildings and a rich culture. Bilbao is comprised of a fascinating mix of the old and the new, with many spectacular contemporary buildings. This Basque city dates to the 13th century, yet pilgrims have been passing through Bilbao since 1000.
The Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, designed by American architect Frank Gehry, is a work of modern art itself, and quite the focal point on the beautiful pedestrian promenade and river walkway. The Fine Arts Museum, second only to the Prado in Madrid, is as classic as the Guggenheim is modern.
Above is the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Gehry
The city has an abundance of parks and fountains and sidewalk cafes. I arrived on the most perfect summer Sunday afternoon, and it felt like the whole town was out enjoying their lovely city, the young and the old all strolling and visiting and soaking up the sun.
The Basque cuisine is fabulous! The tapas and pintos are not only delicious but also works of art! The variety is endless; crab, shrimp, cod, salmon, cured ham, egg, spinach, eggplant, beef tartar, and on and on. The locals enjoy a glass of wine or Cava, nibble on 1 or 2 pintos, visit with friends and then move to another. The region has many innovative restaurants as well as traditional.
Enjoying tapas and wine with our guide and golf pro David.
Cuisine plays a huge role in local life, as does wine. Michelin-rated restaurants abound, as do bodegas (wine cellars) offering wine tastings and tours throughout the year.
I enjoyed the wine bar at the Marques de Riscal hotel.
The University of Deusto is Spain’s largest private university, run by the Jesuits and with campuses in Bilbao and San Sebastian, and dates back to 1880.
The University of Deusto, Bilbao
The Basque and Rioja regions include the Pyrenees for skiing, climbing, caving, and canoeing. The coastlines are made up of rocky coves and wide bays with yellow sand beaches, and are interspersed with fishing villages. Inland are forests, valleys, and gorges. The south is populated with abundant vineyards and food crops.
San Sebastian, situated on a neat, shell-shaped bay, is considered the most elegant and fashionable Spanish seaside resort. The city itself is renowned for its great summer festivals, featuring both jazz and classical music as well as art, theater, and the international film festival in September.
Bullfighting is still a very serious sport in Northern Spain and even the smallest villages feature “the running of the bulls” as an event in their regular summer festivals. The old fortress city of Pamplona holds the largest event in July, during the festival of Los San Fermines, with its daredevil bull running followed by traditional bullfights.
The running of the bulls, Pamplona
For more pictures and information, visit the Journeys Viaggio Facebook page, and check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKv-hBowhVY for a full slideshow.
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