Bilbao Facts
Fact 1: Bilboa is the largest of all Basque cities, and despite being known as an industrial power, it is also a popular tourist city. Art museums and venues such as the Teatro de Arriaga are some of the main reasons for the city's cultural resurgence.
Fact 2: One of the most popular attractions in Bilbao is Frank O'Gehry's extraordinary Guggenheim Art Museum. The titanium-covered building, which allegedly resembles a metallic flower, is the largest gallery in the world.
Fact 3: Eat, drink and be merry! The best place to do all three is in one of Bilbao's many tapas bars. These bars specialize in offering delicious bits of food, platter after platter.
Fact 4: Bilbao is difficult to navigate by car. Its complex landscape of hills and valleys is sometimes hard to travel, especially if you miss a turn. It is no exaggeration to say that, if you do miss one, you might have to circle around some 25 miles to get back to the point where you started.
Fact 5: August is a great time to visit Bilbao. The city is a wild and truly festive place during fiesta time. Open-air bars, live music, and free-spirited dance add to the pulsating vibe of the city.
Fact 6: Bilbao has been an important Spanish port since the twelfth century. For several centuries, Bilbao and Bermeo were the two main commercial ports in Spain, and the cities considered themselves rivals. However, Bilbao became a central port for the supply of Castilian products from the North, thus helping the city grow into Spain's most important commercial port.
Fact 7: Rowing races have a long history in Bilbao. The races started in the nineteenth century, when groups of fishermen challenged each other to races. Today, the "Gran Premio del Nervión" and "Bandera de la Concha" races draw swarms of rowing fans.
Fact 8: Bullfighting is often associated with the south of Spain, but Bilbao has hosted bullfights since the seventeenth century. In fact, the Basque region is a veritable hotspot for the sport (the most famous "running of the bulls" event takes place in Pamplona). Vista Alegre, the arena in Bilbao, features a museum detailing the history and importance of bullfighting in the area.
Fact 9: The Museum of Fine Arts in Bilbao features one of the most complete collections of fine art in Spain. Paul Cezanne, Mary Cassatt, Francisco de Goya, and Eduardo Chillida are a few of names you will find in the vast collection.
Fact 10: Bilbao's old town was renovated in the mid nineteenth century, which resulted in the demolition of many medieval structures. However, the old town retains three gothic churches and many old-fashioned townhouses and cafés that reflect the area's history.
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