Bilbao tourism - Bilbao city route - Basque Country

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Basque Country Information: BISKAIA - BILBAO Information: Much more than the Guggenheim

Busy streets, lively shopping precincts, gar dens and squares on either side of the estuary. Bilbao is a capital that quite obviously offers the visitor far more than just the famous Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Let's start our tour in the hectic PLAZA DE ESPANA, also known as the Plaza Circular. Making our way down the Calle Buenos Aires will bring us to the backbone of the city, the estuary. Crossing the bridge, we can observe a building with its own personality, the AYUNTAMIENTO, or Town Hall. Turning to the right will take us to the ARENAL gardens where the locals love to meet and do all sorts of activities. Next, we'll make our way into the Caseo Viejo past the church of San Nicolas de Bari before the Calle Correo brings us out onto the Neo-classical PLAZA NUEVA with its 64 porticoed arches, bars with lively
terraces and Sunday street market. Across the square, in the Calle de la Cruz, is the MUSEO ARQUEO- LOGICO, ETNOLOGICO E HISTORICO VASCO, home to a collection of objects and tools used by the Basques since preh istory. Very near here, by now in the Siete Calles of the original old quarter, is SANTIAGO CATHE DRAL, an excellent example of Bizkaian Gothic architecture.

Stop at the doorway known as the "Portada del Angel" before losing yourself in the boisterous bars of the Siete Ca lies, coming back out again at the estuary next to the CHURCH OF SAN ANTON, on which you'll see the borough's coat of arms, and the MERCADO DE LA RIBERA. Make your way back through the area until coming to the Calle Bidebarrieta, the street leading to the majestic TEATRO ARRIAGA as it glis tens beside the estuary. Crossing the constantly busy Puente del Arenal will bring us back to the Plaza de Espaiia. Before heading down the Gran Via, stop for a rest at the rela xing ALBIA GARDENS, pre sided over by the chron i cler Antonio de Trueba, or have some thing to drink in the ancient Iruña cafe. The GRAN VIA, dedica ted to Don Diego Lopez de Haro, but given this shorter name by the locals, is the capital's most important banking and shopping district.

Stop in front of the building housing the DIPUTACION FORAL DE BIZKAIA and in the large Plaza Moyua, also known as the Plaza Eliptica. From the Gran Via you can access DOÑA CASILDA PARK, where you'll find a bandstand often used for open-air festive activities. This park, Bilbao's breath of fresh air, serves as the entrance to the MUSEO DE BELLAS ARTES, and its excellent art collection. At the bottom of the Alameda de Rekalde you'll be met by Puppy, the cute, flower-coated mascot of the GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM BILBAO, where you can end your stroll, either by visiting the building or by enjoying the area surrounding it. Gehry's construction stands on the opposite side of the estuary from Deusto University.