Bilbao is Spain’s sixth-largest city, its biggest
port and the main
industrial center in the north of the country. It is also the predominant city in the Basque region and was the seat of the
Basque autonomous government in the Spanish Civil War, from 1936 until its capture by the Nationalists the year after.
Bilbao was
established as a city on 15 June, but it was the industrial era of the 19th and 20th centuries that brought it
wealth and affluence and allowed the development of a prosperous modern city. Shipbuilding and iron and steel production
have been among its most important industries.
Business was good for Bilbao up until the last decades of the 20th century, when
industrial decline set in. A deep economic crisis developed that necessitated a radical shift of economic focus. The solution was to invest heavily in
tourism, culture and environmental and urban
regeneration, and by these means Bilbao managed to turn itself around and become a world-famous
success story.
Architectural wonders such as the
Guggenheim Museum and
Euskalduna Palace have helped to attract a large number of tourists to the city. They have also contributed to the opening up of Bilbao’s urban space, allowing the city to breathe again after decades of industrial congestion.
Bilbao is once again shining as the
star of the Basque region, welcoming visitors from all over the world to sample its cultural treasures, and
gastronomic riches - Basque cuisine is among the best in Spain, and Bilbao boasts some of the region’s
leading restaurants.
The city has a
population of around 350,000, but the whole metropolitan area, including the suburbs and many surrounding towns, is home to over a million inhabitants.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
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Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related Spain Content
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.
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