The famous Guggenheim Museum on the bank of the Nervion River.

On a windy, wet, cloudy, dry, and sunny Sunday (aka changeable weather conditions), we visited the city of Bilbao, which is situated on the Bay of Biscay in Northern Spain, less than an hour's drive from where we were staying in San Sebastian. Bilbao was recoverng from the final of the European Rugby Cup of the previous day and by the time we arrived, the advertising hoardings were already being brought down.

The plan was to meet friends by the riverside market and then go for lunch time Pintxos (tapas) in the Plaza Nueva, after which some sightseeing. The Plaza Nueva is an enclosed courtyard with covered alcoves behind which there many bars, restaurants and shops. On Sundays, there is an antiques and bric-a-brac marketnder the shade of the alcoves, while local crowds to mix their browsing with a spot of lunch.

Bilbao dates back to several centuries BC and, as with San Sebasitian, due to its location and importance, has suffered in many conflicts, particularly the Carlist uprisings and the Spanish Civil War. In later years, after the fall of Franco, democratic elections put the Basque Party into power and it is the capital of the Basque Region with a population of around 1 million.

It is an important port city and a centre of rapid industrialisation during the 19th and 20th centruries, much of which was due to the mining of iron ore.  It is obviously a city of wealth, but at the same time, sadly, rapid growth led to a lack of planning. So while there are some great buildings, parts of the city look harsh while overall, the city is a sprawl of low-rise buildings. 

As economic activity slowed in the latter part of the 20th century, a much needed boost came with investment in beautificaton and cultural projects such as the Guggenheam Museum and the new metro system designed by Norman Foster. The city has won several awards for urban planning is a City of Culture.