Bilbao has “born again” after the opening of the Guggenheim Museum and
the Euskalduna Conference Centre and Congress Hall.
Still, the charms and attractiveness of the city are not limited to these
already emblematic buildings.
The Casco Viejo (Old Town) of Bibao preserves plenty of buildings that
make the history of the capital of Vizcaya, as: the Arriaga Theatre,
the Stock Exchange building, the Municipal Library, the Ribera market
or the City Hall (Ayuntamiento). The area is characterized by the intense
comercial activity of its seven main streets (centre) among which you find
the Plaza Nueva (Square), the Gothic Cahtedral of Santiago Apóstol,
the Basque Ethnographic Museum and the Arenal (Square).
The area of Indautxu is also characterized by its intense comercial activity.
It is located in the upper side of Bilbao. It is not only well known for its
shops but also for being an area with a high concentration of bars and
restaurants. The street Poza, which ends at the Football Stadium of
San Mamés and the Bilbao International Exhibition Centre, is one of the most
concurred by youths at night during weekends. It is also very popular at
midday to taste a snack before lunch. As it was already mentioned,
Indautxu is full of bars and pubs where you can get hold of the famous
“pintxos”, typical of the Basque gastronomy that are becoming more and more
popular in cities like Madrid or Barcelona.
The Ensanche (enlargement) of Bibao cannot be forgotten. On the other
side of the estuary, crossing from the Arenal that is an entrance to the
Old Town, is one of the most beautiful areas of the botxo (familiar name
given to the city). The Ensanche is an area of spacious streets, gardens
and parks that are taken well care of.
The centre of the Ensanche is Bilbao`s main street, Gran Vía de Don Diego
López de Haro, which houses very characteristic buildings and spots of
the city: the Diputación Foral de Vizcaya (Vizcaya`s Provincial Government),
the Gobierno civil (Civil Government), the Fine Arts Museum
(Museo de Bellas Artes), the Guggenheim Museum, the Doña Casilda Park,
and the Plaza de Moyúa (Square) among others.
