Bizkaia islands information - Bilbao places of interest - Bizcaia villages

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Basque Country Information: BIZKAIA Information - VISIT THE ISLANDS

Three little islands, Billano (in Gorliz), Aketxe (beside San Juan de Gaztelugatxe) and Izaro (at the outlet of the Gernika estuary) are dotted along this route offering a combination of beaches, history and nature.

Our itinerary leads us away from Bilbao along the right bank of the Nervion until coming to the residential area of GETXO and its four neighbourhoods (Las Arenas, Neguri,Algorta and Santa Maria). Another option is to start from PORTUGALETE, on the left bank, after having crossed the estuary via the world's first hanging bridge, the hundred-year old Puente de Bizkaia (1893). From here we'll head for the industrial and fishing town of SANTURTZI.
Stop in NEGURI and take a walk through the mansions built by the upper middle classes which have now been facing out to sea for more than a century.

Feel like having a dip? The next town along the BI-634, SOPELANA, has three beaches: Atzabiribil, Larrabasterra and La Salvaje. Another possibility are the strands of two neighbouring
towns, PLENTZIA and GORLIZ. From here, an alternative route is to head from GORLlZ to ARMINTZA, a small fishing village with one of the most abrupt views of the coast.
But let's change the sea breeze for the shade of the woods, such as those surrounding the lovely BUTRON castle in GATIKA.

Taking the BI-631 and BI-3101 from MUNGIA will bring us back onto the coast at BAKIO, where we can take a walk along the long beach or taste the local red txakoli before looking for the turn-off from the road towards Bermeo and one of the most spectacular views in Bizkaia.
The hermitage of SAN JUAN DE GAZTELUGATXE deserves a climb right up to the top of this rock joined to the coast. The view of the little islet of Aketxe rounds off a unique enclave, now a protected biotope.

Our next stop is the typical fishing village of BERMEO. Strolling round its lively Puerto Viejo, we will come to the medieval Ercilla tower, ancestral home of Alonso de Ercilla, the author of "La araucana", which now harbours the Museo del Pescador. Another interesting spot is the oathtaking church of Santa Eufemia in which the Castilian kings had to swear allegiance to the local charters.

Continuing via the BI-635, we'll stop at the nearby surfers' paradise of MUNDAKA. The splendid Portuondo vantage point offers fabulous views of the sea, Izaro island, the Gernika estuary and the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. We'll now head for the extremely symbolic GERNIKA-LUMO where we can visit the Neoclassical Casa de Juntas and its mythical Gernika Oak Tree, emblem of Basque freedom and charters. The Gernika Peace Museum brings to mind the tragic bombardment of the villa in 1937 and anyone who wants to have a thought about the nonsense of war is invited.

From here we will take the BI-638 northwards to KORTEZUBI, the township of which is home of two of the biggest attractions in Bizkaia, the Basque cave painting sanctuary of Santimamiiie and Oma forest. Be sure to give these two places the time they deserve.
This itinerary can be brought to an end by stopping off at the romantic AREAGA castle before heading via the BI-3237 coastal road to ELANTXOBE and EA for a stroll along the quays of these picturesque fishing villages set between the hills and the sea.

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