Spain's northern industrial port city, Bilbao, is the political capital of the nationalistic Basque people who inhabit Spain's three northern provinces, an area known collectively as Euskadi. The city is not beautiful - the buildings are soot-stained and the Nervion River running through it is one of Spain's most polluted waterways, but Bilbao does have some surprises to offer visitors, and there are plenty of attractions in the surrounding countryside and around the coast on the Bay of Biscay which can be easily reached on excursions by rail or road.
The main attraction in the city is the
controversial Guggenheim Museum, relatively new on the scene, having been opened in 1997. The city fathers regard this avant-garde building as the beginning of the city's revitalization, which has also recently acquired a new metro system and airport terminal. Bilbao has some good beaches and a few scenic spots - a favored picnic site is on Monte Archanda, north of the old town, accessible by funicular. Of the beaches Getxo is the favorite, particularly with surfers, and features a 100-year-old suspension bridge and some lively bars and nightclubs.
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The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
