The city: Bilbao
Although we have no
records enabling us to date Bilbao exactly, archaeological remains found where
it stands suggest that there was a settlement there before the current one,
whose people, who lived on both banks of the Nervión, worked as fishermen and
mined and processed iron. The history of Bilbao as we know it began in the
Middle Ages when it became a centre for trading.
This seafaring and
trading town earned the title "Villa" when, on 15th June
1300 in Valladolid, Don Diego López de Haro V, a nobleman from Bizkaia, awarded
the town the Carta Puebla Fundacional, which led to it becoming one of Biscay's
main centres for development, supplanting
Bermeo as the most important town in the region.
It is very difficult
to say in just a few lines what the most typical or interesting of Bilbao's
sights are: museums such as the Guggenheim, the Museo de Bellas Artes and the
Museo Marítimo are all worth visiting.
Religious tourism is
also important, with the impressive Basílica de Begoña being a pilgrimage
destination for many, not to mention San Mamés, one of the best known
"cathedrals" in the country, where every Sunday a large number of faithfuls
flock in their droves to worship a different cult altogether: the beautiful
game and its football club, Atlético Bilbao, another of the city's
institutions.
Bilbao has one of the
best shopping centres in the area in terms of both variety and quality, and some
of best brands in the world are represented on its Gran Vía and in the
surrounding area, which is popularly known as "La Milla de Oro”.
To end this tour of
'El Botxo' (Bilbao’s nickname) on a high note, we should mention its Pintxos
restaurants and bars. It should be said that its cuisine already enjoys an
international reputation so why not sample some Pintxos in the Casco Viejo and
enjoy a meal at one of the city's many restaurants.
Festivals of interest
SEMANA GRANDE DE BILBAO
Summer is the time of year for the most anticipated and acclaimed festivals, with the ASTE NAGUSIA, or Semana Grande, which offers nine days of culture and madness for locals and visitors alike.Concerts, theatre, fireworks, children's games, herri kirolak,... all of the ingredients on the menu of these festivals to which Mari Jaia, the mascot of the festivals, invites you.
Events
Xacobeo 2010
This Holy Year offers a unique opportunity to celebrate the Camino de Santiago as a place of pilgrimage and a meeting point for people of different nations that has become a symbol of fraternity over the centuries and a corner stone of an awareness of Europe, as affirmed by the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord won in 2004.
The Holy Year Xacobeo 2010 is very important as it symbolises the end of a cycle which has been particularly prominent for the number of pilgrims who have followed the Camino de Santiago over the years. Given the leap years, the Feast of St. James on 25th July falls on a Sunday every 11, 6, 5, 6 and then 11 years. So there won’t be another ‘Jacobeo’ until 2021.
In order to obtain the jubilee, all pilgrims must honour the three traditions:
- Visit the grave of the Apostle in the Cathedral and pray.
- Receive the Sacrament of Confession (either in the Cathedral or anywhere else, two weeks earlier or afterwards).
- Receive communion.
This indulgence is applicable to the deceased. Jubilee indulgences are granted once a day under the following conditions:
- Visiting the Cathedral while praying.
- Receiving the Sacraments of Confession (two weeks earlier or afterwards) and the Holy Communion.
The Xacobeo 2010 programme has been designed to satisfy the cultural needs of different audiences and different ages. Large and small scale shows, musical performances and projects are being organised covering a range of artistic disciplines: photography, animation and film, and exhibitions.
Further Information