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Bilbao & The

Basque Country

One of Europe's oldest and most culturally rich regions, it has a lot to offer to visitors, from Bilbao's fascinating mixture between classic and modern architecture to San Sebastian's stunning sceneries, from Biarritz's "Grandeur" to La Rioja's enchanting vineyards, passing through green landscapes, a dramatic coastline and picturesque villages. All accompanied by top end cuisine and friendly and hospitable people.
Guggenheim Bilbao
Bilbao
 
Once considered industrial, Bilbao has recently undergone an extraordinary transformation. 
Bilbao is a great city for anyone with an interest in architecture, food, urban culture, art or music. 
 
Best of Bilbao and around

1) Guggenheim Museum.
It suddenly became the symbol of Bilbao. 
Architect Philip Johnson once described it as "the greatest building of our time"; probably not everyone would have the same opinion but what it is sure is that the titanium, glass, and limestone structure is a spectacular sight. Even if you don’t appreciate modern art, it’s worth the price of admission to go inside and use the free audio guide to learn about this amazing building. The friendly dog Puppy, a giant dog covered with more than 70,000 flowers, will welcome you to the museum. It is also worth to stroll alongside the river on the back of the museum where the Jeff Koons' tulips and the Louise Bourgeois' terrific spider are located. 
 
 
2) The Old Town - Casco Viejo
The medieval neighbourhood of Bilbao has many names. Except for “Casco Viejo” (Old Town) it is also called “Las Siete Calles” (Seven Streets) which describes the oldest part of the area, consisting of only seven streets. It’s a small precinct closed to traffic, with the late-fourteenth-century Santiago Cathedral at its centre. The recently refurbished art deco Ribera Market is worth a visit, with two floors of vendors selling mostly fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses and fish. In the old town, one can wander the narrow streets for hours to find fun boutique shops, restaurants, food shops, gelato and more. The Plaza Nueva is a great spot for trying Bilbao’s pintxos, the Basque tapas.
 
 
3) Vizcaya Bridge - Puente de Vizcaya
Declared a World-Heritage in 2006, it is the world's oldest Transporter Bridge and a direct witness to Vizcaya's most recent history. Unesco defines it as "a perfect combination of functionality and aesthetic beauty, in an exceptional expression of technical creativity". It can be visited and offers excellent views over the estuary's mouth.
 
 
4) The Fine Arts Museum - Museo de Bellas Artes 
Not far from the Guggenheim Museum is Bilbao’s Fine Arts Museum with an impressive permanent collection. Besides the popular Spanish artists (Goya, Murillo, El Greco), it also hosts some 19th century and modern masters such as Gauguin and Bacon.
 
 
5)  The Azkuna Zentroa Building (previously Alhóndiga)
Originally a wine warehouse (Alhóndiga in Spanish), this modern cultural and leisure centre is located downtown, on Arriquibar Square. Be sure to go inside to explore this amazing renovation, designed by Philippe Starck. There are 43 unique pillars holding up three buildings, designed by the Italian Lorenzo Beraldi, that symbolise the millions of columns, and infinity of cultures, architectures, wars and religions through which man has passed throughout history. You can visit the gallery downstairs, have a drink on the outdoor terrace that overlooks the city or eat at Yandiola's restaurant. 
 
 
6) Old Port of Algorta - Puerto Viejo de Algorta
The setting of the picturesque Puerto Viejo, the Old Port of Algorta, a beautiful small maritime spot in the municipality of Getxo, located barely half an hour from Bilbao by metro, is worth a visit if you are spending few days in Bilbao. It is a very popular and lively place, where good cuisine, with fish and shellfish as star items on the menu, provides one of its highlights. Groups of friends gather outdoors to enjoy a drink and taste pintxos while surveying magnificent views over El Abra Bay. 
 
 
7) Pintxos
Last but not least, pintxos! These are the Basque tapas and the Basques have certainly mastered the art of making an appetizer into a gastronomic delight. The best areas to taste pintxos are Plaza Nueva in the Old Town, calle García Rivero in Indautxu, calle Licenciado Poza (known as Pozas) in Indautxu as well, calle Ledesma in the Ensanche and in the surroundings of the Palacio de la Diputación de Bizkaia.
Bilbao Casco Viejo
Puente Bizkaia
Puerto Viejo Algorta
Museo Bellas Artes
Alhóndiga
Guggenheim Sketch
Pintxos Bilbao
The Basque Country
 
Called the País Vasco in Spanish and Euskal Herria in the linguistically mysterious, non-Indo-European Basque language Euskera.
Apart from Bilbao, there is plenty to see in this extraordinarily diverse region, home of green hills, a stunning coastline, and colorful traditional towns.  
Here are a couple of suggestions with the intention of making your experience enriching, fun and welcoming!
 
 
1) San Sebastián (Donosti in Euskera)
One of the jewels of the region, San Sebastián offers beautiful beaches, excellent pintxos, and a vibrant atmosphere.
You can enjoy the day sunbathing at La Concha, swimming at Santa Clara, doing water sports at Zurriola or admiring the views from one of the two hills, Monte Urgul and Monte Igeldo, that encase the bay. 
It has also been voted the best gastronomic location in the world in 2012 with plenty of varied and affordable restaurants and two of the top 10 restaurants in the world, Mugaritz and Arzak. 
 
 
2) Biarritz
Once considered the Monte Carlo of the Atlantic Coast, it is a charming and chic town that was a popular destination amongst monarchs and celebrities, including Queen Victoria, Frank Sinatra, Bette Davis, Rita Hayworth and Ernest Hemingway. 
It is a beautiful town with both the French charm and the Spanish vivacity that offers an ideal combination for relaxing, good cuisine, shopping, sandy beaches and nightlife.
The loveliest places to stroll around are the streets between the Casino Municipal and the Plage du Port-Vieux. Beyond lies the Grande Plage, an immaculate sweep of sand that stretches past the casino; from here you can climb the gentle stairs on the hillocks for panoramic ocean views. 
 
 
3) La Rioja
This has long been one of Europe's most favoured grape-growing regions. When you see and feel the landscape you'll begin to know why. The vineyards are nestled between high mountain ranges that pull warm Mediterranean weather up against cool Atlantic breezes.
There are hundreds of bodegas to visit, from old school wineries to impressively avant-garde wineries, such as Marques de Riscal by Frank Ghery, Ysios by  Santiago Calatrava and Lopez Heredia by Zaha Hadid.
Not only is the wine amazing, but there are also charming little towns, including Laguardia, a medieval village with views of the surrounding mountains and vineyards, along with great bodegas and good restaurants. 
 
 
4) The Basque Coastal Towns
The Basque Country coastline (Costa Vasca) is dotted with scenic fishing villages, white sandy beaches and coastal walks, all the way from Hondarribia, east of San Sebastian, to the west of Bilbao. 
The historic harbour town of Hondarribia is close to the French border; its medieval old town is set atop a hill overlooking the brightly coloured houses of the fisherman's quarter. 
West of San Sebastian is the fishing village of Guetaria, renowned for its txakoli (a sparkling white that is considered to be one of the finest seafood wines); here you can also visit the museum of the fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, originary from this town. 
Further west is the picturesque Lekeitio, a small town with a few special beaches and crystal clear turquoise water. In the bay lies an island that can be reached via a sandbank during low tide.
 
 
5) San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
An incredible example of natural beauty, San Juan de Gatzelugatxe is a rugged little island surrounded by rough seas on the Biscay coast and connected to the mainland by a narrow winding pathway of over 200 stairs. Perched on this tiny islet is a 10th century hermitage dedicated to saint John the Baptist. Legend has it that the church has foundations in the Knight’s Templar, and since then it has seen numerous shipwrecks and sackings by pirates, marking Gatzelugatxe as both a valuable historic site and a strikingly beautiful and unique place. 
San Juan de Gatzelugatxe
San Sebastián
Marqués de Riscal
Hondarribia
Caserío Vasco
Biarritz

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