Euskadi / Basque Country

Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque Country and the tenth largest city in Spain, with a population of about 350,000. The metropolitan area has more than 1,000,000 inhabitants. After its foundation in the late 13th century Bilbao was one of the commercial hubs of the Basque Country that enjoyed significant importance in the Crown of Castile. In 1372, John I of Castile named Bilbao a free port and granting it special privileges concerning the trade of iron. This caused Bilbao to become an important port, particularly due to its trade with Flanders and Great Britain. In 1511, Queen Joanna of Castile ordered the creation of the Consulate of the Sea of Bilbao. Under the Consulate's control, the port of Bilbao became one of the most important of the kingdom. The first printing-press was brought to the town in 1577. Here in 1596, the first book in the Basque language was edited. Around 1631, the city was the scenario of a series of revolts against the increased taxation on salt, an event locally known as the "Machinada of the salt". The revolt ended with the execution of several of its leaders. The city had seen a continuous increase of its wealth, especially after the discovery of extensive iron deposits in the surrounding mountains. Despite the Peninsular War and the Carlist Wars, Bilbao prospered during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, when it rose as the economic centre of the Basque Country. In 1936, during the Spanish Civil War the city suffered its first bombing. The Nationalists threatened further bombing if the city did not give up. In September German planes, in coordination with Francoist forces, dropped at least a hundred bombs on the city. With the war over, Bilbao returned to its industrial development, accompanied by steady population growth. In the 1980s, several factors led to a devastating industrial crisis. Since the mid-1990s, Bilbao has been in a process of deindustrialization and transition to a service economy. It started with the opening of the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, continuing with the Conference Centre and the Concert Hall and the metro network. Bilbao Cathedral is the episcopal church of the diocese of Bilbao, which was founded in 1949. The Gothic church, which was elevated to basilica minor status in 1819, dates back to a pilgrimage church on the coastal route of the Way of St James. A chapel for pilgrims on the Way of St James already existed before the town was founded in 1300. From 1380, a new parish and collegiate church was built on the site of the chapel. The new building testifies to the rapidly growing importance of the town. The cathedral is inspired by French cathedral Gothic. It is a three-aisled basilica with a central transept. The portal façade and the bell tower were rebuilt between 1885 and 1890. Two guardian angels holding a naked baby upside down

Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque Country and the tenth largest city in Spain, with a population of about 350,000. The metropolitan area has more than 1,000,000 inhabitants. After its foundation in the late 13th century Bilbao was one of the commercial hubs of the Basque Country that enjoyed significant importance in the Crown of Castile. In 1372, John I of Castile named Bilbao a free port and granting it special privileges concerning the trade of iron. This caused Bilbao to become an important port, particularly due to its trade with Flanders and Great Britain. In 1511, Queen Joanna of Castile ordered the creation of the Consulate of the Sea of Bilbao. Under the Consulate's control, the port of Bilbao became one of the most important of the kingdom. The first printing-press was brought to the town in 1577. Here in 1596, the first book in the Basque language was edited. Around 1631, the city was the scenario of a series of revolts against the increased taxation on salt, an event locally known as the "Machinada of the salt". The revolt ended with the execution of several of its leaders. The city had seen a continuous increase of its wealth, especially after the discovery of extensive iron deposits in the surrounding mountains. Despite the Peninsular War and the Carlist Wars, Bilbao prospered during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, when it rose as the economic centre of the Basque Country. In 1936, during the Spanish Civil War the city suffered its first bombing. The Nationalists threatened further bombing if the city did not give up. In September German planes, in coordination with Francoist forces, dropped at least a hundred bombs on the city. With the war over, Bilbao returned to its industrial development, accompanied by steady population growth. In the 1980s, several factors led to a devastating industrial crisis. Since the mid-1990s, Bilbao has been in a process of deindustrialization and transition to a service economy. It started with the opening of the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, continuing with the Conference Centre and the Concert Hall and the metro network. Preparing for the Semana Santa

The Guggenheim Museum is a museum of modern and contemporary art. It is one of several museums affiliated to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and features permanent and visiting exhibits of works by Spanish and international artists. The architect was Frank O. Gehry. The foundation stone was laid in 1993 and the museum was inaugurated in 1997 in the presence of the then King Juan Carlos. The Guggenheim Museum is one of the city's most important sights. In 2007, it welcomed its ten millionth visitor. The number of visitors is around 1 million per year, 60% of whom come from abroad. The museum has led to a revitalisation of the district, where numerous cafés, bars and small shops have sprung up. The museum was not only a great cultural enrichment for Bilbao and the entire northern Spanish region, but also an economic success, as several thousand jobs were created. The term "Bilbao Effect" is derived from the museum building and its influence on the city. Jeff Koons' “Puppy” guards the entrance of the Museo Guggenheim Bilbao. Last time I was here, I took a photo from the front, this time from the backside.

The Guggenheim Museum is a museum of modern and contemporary art. It is one of several museums affiliated to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and features permanent and visiting exhibits of works by Spanish and international artists. The architect was Frank O. Gehry. The foundation stone was laid in 1993 and the museum was inaugurated in 1997 in the presence of the then King Juan Carlos. The Guggenheim Museum is one of the city's most important sights. In 2007, it welcomed its ten millionth visitor. The number of visitors is around 1 million per year, 60% of whom come from abroad. The museum has led to a revitalisation of the district, where numerous cafés, bars and small shops have sprung up. The museum was not only a great cultural enrichment for Bilbao and the entire northern Spanish region, but also an economic success, as several thousand jobs were created. The term "Bilbao Effect" is derived from the museum building and its influence on the city. The architecture is stunning and breathtaking

The Guggenheim Museum is a museum of modern and contemporary art. It is one of several museums affiliated to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and features permanent and visiting exhibits of works by Spanish and international artists. The architect was Frank O. Gehry. The foundation stone was laid in 1993 and the museum was inaugurated in 1997 in the presence of the then King Juan Carlos. The Guggenheim Museum is one of the city's most important sights. In 2007, it welcomed its ten millionth visitor. The number of visitors is around 1 million per year, 60% of whom come from abroad. The museum has led to a revitalisation of the district, where numerous cafés, bars and small shops have sprung up. The museum was not only a great cultural enrichment for Bilbao and the entire northern Spanish region, but also an economic success, as several thousand jobs were created. The term "Bilbao Effect" is derived from the museum building and its influence on the city. Jeff Koons / 1955

The Visigoth King Leovigild founded a city called Victoriacum on the occasion of a victory over the Basques in the 6th century. In 1181, King Sancho the Wise of Navarre founded what is now Vitoria with the name Nueva Victoria. This was an extension of the already existing Basque settlement of Gasteiz, which was developed into a fortress against Castile. In 1199, the city was besieged for nine months and finally taken by the troops of Alfonso VIII of Castile, who annexed the city to the Kingdom of Castile. The city was gradually enlarged and was granted city rights in 1431. Today, Vitoria-Gasteiz is a lively, colourful city with more than 250,000 inhabitants.

The Visigoth King Leovigild founded a city called Victoriacum on the occasion of a victory over the Basques in the 6th century. In 1181, King Sancho the Wise of Navarre founded what is now Vitoria with the name Nueva Victoria. This was an extension of the already existing Basque settlement of Gasteiz, which was developed into a fortress against Castile. In 1199, the city was besieged for nine months and finally taken by the troops of Alfonso VIII of Castile, who annexed the city to the Kingdom of Castile. The city was gradually enlarged and was granted city rights in 1431. Today, Vitoria-Gasteiz is a lively city with more than 250,000 inhabitants. The Catedral de Santa María was built in the 13th and 14th centuries. From 1496 to 1861, it served as a collegiate church. In 1862, the church was designated the cathedral of the newly created diocese of Vitoria until the new María Inmaculada Cathedral was completed in 1914. Hence often named "old cathedral". Structural problems such as the inadequate foundations became apparent when the church was extended in the 16th and 17th centuries. The still visible displacements were countered with reinforcements and additional buttresses in the interior. These were partially removed during a major renovation in the 1960s, which ultimately led to the closure of the cathedral in 1994 due to dilapidation. The church has been open for services again since 2014

The Spanish are rightly proud of Spanish ham, of which there are many different types. Slicing the ham wafer-thin requires a lot of practice. The most popular and most expensive is the ‘Jamón Ibérico de Bellota’, which comes from pigs that have been subjected to traditional acorn fattening.