Bilbao

Bilbao, city and seaport in northern Spain, the capital of Vizcaya, on the Nervión River, near the Bay of Biscay, in the Basque region. Bilbao consists of an old quarter lying on the right bank of the Nervión, and a modern district, dating from the late 19th century, on the left bank. Several bridges connect the old and new sections. Bilbao is served by several rail lines and roads, and an international airport. Population 353,168 (2007).

One of the major industrial centres of Spain, the city is in a large iron ore mining region. The chief industries are shipbuilding and the manufacture of cement, chemicals, foodstuffs, iron and steel, machinery, paper, and textiles. Bilbao is an important seaport: iron ore, cereals, and wine are major exports. The chief imports are coal and timber.

The city has several churches, among them the fine Gothic Church of Santiago, dating from the 14th century. It also has a number of museums, with collections ranging from archaeological finds relating to the history of the Basques, to contemporary works of art. Among its educational institutions is the University of Deusto (1886). The author and philosopher Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo was born in Bilbao. The Semana Grande is a major annual bullfighting event in Bilbao each August.

In the 1990s numerous revitalization and modernization projects were launched in Bilbao, such as the development of transport infrastructures (including a subway system designed by Sir Norman Foster, and the city airport and Nervión footbridge by Santiago Calatrava), the cleaning up of the river, and an urban redevelopment on the waterfront (created by César Pelli). The most prominent of the projects was the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, which opened in October 1997. Featuring American and European art of the 20th century, the shapely, titanium-covered building contains 19 galleries and was designed by American architect Frank Gehry using computer technology.

Founded in 1300, Bilbao, through various privileges granted it, swiftly became one of the leading seaports of Spain. During the 17th and 18th centuries the fortunes of the city declined. In the 19th century the demand for iron ore and steel throughout Europe led to renewed industrial growth in Bilbao. The city withstood two great sieges by the Carlists in 1835 to 1836 and in 1874. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Bilbao was the capital of a short-lived autonomous state of the Basques under Loyalist control. The old section of Bilbao was severely damaged by a flood in 1983, but has since been restored.