COMPREHENSIVE TRAVEL GUIDE TO BILBAO, SPAIN

Bilbao is the capital of the province of Vizcaya, which is situated in the western part of the Basque Counrty, in northern Spain. As a financial and economic centre of the region, it is a dynamic and innovative city with intense social and business activity. Apart from these, it offers to the visitor impressive landscapes, unique history, rich cultural tradition and renowned cuisine, combined with the warm hospitality of its people. It is also one of Europe's main reference points for architecture and contemporary art. Combined, all of this makes Bilbao one of the main tourist attractions in Spain.

Bilbao and the Basque Counrty, along with part - Basque Navarre and La Rioja, offer a great deal of urban variety, with distinctive characters to savour. In addition, the geographical gamut running from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pyrenees or the Sierra de la Demanda peaks suggest that surfing, sailing, skiing and mountain hiking are all within a 100 - mile radius.

This unique of its kind city is an even more intriguing destination, because time in Bilbao may soon need to be identified as BG or AG (Before Guggenheim, After Guggenheim). Never has a single monument or art and architecture so radically changed a city or, for that matter - a whole nation, and in this case two - Spain and the semiautonomous region of Spain - the Basque country, or by its official name - Euskadi. By telling all this details about Bilbao, I don't run out of interesting facts about the city. In addition to its distinct culture and nation is its linguistically mysterious, non Indo - European language of its own - Euskera. Exploring the pleasures and treasures of the city, it is inevitable for the visitor, not to be impressed by the astonishing Nervion River, which meanders through Bilbao, whose historic core was built inside one of its loops, protecting it from three sides. Most of the important shops, banks and tourist facilities lie within a short stroll to the Gran Via, running east - west through the core of the town. The Old Quarter is east of the modern commercial centre, across the river, and has curiously few medieval monuments, despite the fact that Bilbao was established in 1300. It really has an interesting old quarter however, situated on the east side of Nervion River and the site of its best bars and restaurants. Going there at night and barhopping, ordering small cups of beer or wine has become a custom. Have in mind that a small glass of wine is called chiquiteo.

There are four bridges, who connect the Old Quarter to the much larger modern part on the opposite bank. A few paces in northern direction from the Old Quarter's centre there are graceful arches, 64 in all, enclosing the Plaza Nueva, also called the Plaza de los Martires, completed in 1830. Undoubtedly, the whole town of Bilbao is considered a national landmark and is worth visiting. Offering amusements and sites, which are going to fulfill everyone's expectations, it is one of the most preferred destinations in Europe. Visit and come round to that opinion yourself.