View source for Bilbao

{{other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Bilbao
| settlement_type    = [[Municipalities of Biscay|Municipality]]
| official_name      = <!-- if different from name -->
| native_name        = {{native name|eu|Bilbo}}
| image_skyline      = Collage de Bilbao, País Vasco, España.png
| imagesize          = 280
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = '''From top left''': view of the city; [[Guggenheim Museum Bilbao|Guggenheim Museum]]; [[Azkuna Zentroa]]; [[Church of Saint Anthony the Great|Church of San Antón]]; Puppy; [[Teatro Arriaga|Arriaga Theatre]]; [[Iberdrola Tower]]; [[San Mamés Stadium (2013)|San Mamés Stadium]]; [[Uribarri (Bilbao metro)|Uribarri station]] of the [[Bilbao metro]]; fireworks in the [[Aste Nagusia]]; [[fosterito]]; Miguel de Unamuno Square in the [[Casco Viejo]]; [[La Salve]]; and [[Bilbao-Abando railway station]]
| image_flag         = Flag of Bilbao.svg
| image_shield       = Escudo heráldico de Bilbao.svg
| nickname           = "The Hole" ({{langx|es|link=no|El Botxo}})
| motto              = 
| image_map          = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-width=275|frame-height=275|zoom=11|frame-lat=43.26|frame-long=-2.95|type=shape-inverse|stroke-width=1|stroke-color=#333333|id=Q8692|title=Bilbao}}
| mapsize            = 275 px
| map_caption        = Interactive map outlining Bilbao
| pushpin_map        = Spain Basque Country#Spain#Europe
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the Basque Country##Location within Spain##Location within Europe
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[Spain]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Autonomous community]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Biscay]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Comarcas of the Basque Country|Comarca]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Greater Bilbao]]
| seat_type          = <!-- Capital -->
| seat               = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|43|15|25|N|2|55|25|W|region:ES_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 19
| elevation_min_m    = 0
| elevation_max_m    = 689
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 41.50
| area_urban_km2     = 18.22
| area_rural_km2     = 23.30
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = {{start date and age|1300|6|15|df=y}}
| founder            = [[Diego López V de Haro]]
| population_as_of   = 2024
| population_footnotes = <ref name=population>{{cite web |url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Tabla.htm?t=68538&L=1|title=Annual population census 2021-2024|publisher=[[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|INE]]}}</ref>
| population_total   = 347342
| population_demonyms = ''Bilbaine''{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}<br />
{{langx|es|link=no|bilbaíno, bilbaína}}<br />
{{langx|eu|bilbotarra}}
| population_note    = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = 782000<ref>[http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf Demographia: World Urban Areas], 2022</ref>
| population_metro   = 1037847<ref>{{cite web |url=http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=urb_lpop1&lang=en |title=Population on 1 January by age groups and sex – functional urban areas |access-date=8 December 2017 |archive-date=3 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903213351/http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=urb_lpop1&lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Languages of Spain|Official language(s)]]
| blank_info_sec1    = [[Basque language|Basque]]<br />Spanish
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/met_10r_3gdp/default/table?lang=en|title=Gross domestic product (GDP) at current market prices by metropolitan regions|website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/met_10r_3pgdp/default/table?lang=en|title=Average annual population to calculate regional GDP data by metropolitan regions|website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Metro
| demographics1_info1 = €32.891 billion (2020)
| demographics1_title2 = Per capita
| demographics1_info2 = €28,801 (2020)
| timezone           = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset         = +1
| timezone_DST       = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +2
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postal codes in Spain|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 48001–48015
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in Spain|Dialing code]]
| area_code          = +34 94
| government_type    = [[Ayuntamiento (Spain)|Ayuntamiento]]
| governing_body     = Ayuntamiento de Bilbao
| leader_title       = [[Mayor of Bilbao|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Juan María Aburto]]
| leader_party       = [[Basque Nationalist Party|PNV]]
| website            = {{Official website|https://www.bilbao.eus/}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Bilbao'''{{efn|Pronunciation: {{IPAc-en|b|ɪ|l|ˈ|b|aʊ|,_|-|ˈ|b|ɑː|əʊ}} {{respell|bil|BOW|,_-|BAH|oh}}, {{IPAc-en|USalso|-|ˈ|b|eɪ|oʊ}} {{respell|-|BAY|oh}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/bilbao|title=Bilbao|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-date=29 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529155059/https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/bilbao|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Bilbao "Bilbao"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529155059/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Bilbao |date=29 May 2019 }} (US) and {{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Bilbao |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322182227/https://www.lexico.com/definition/bilbao |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-03-22 |title=Bilbao |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Bilbao|access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|es|bilˈβao|lang}}; {{langx|eu|Bilbo}} {{IPA|eu|bilβo|}}.}} or '''Bilbo''' is a city in northern [[Spain]], the largest city in the [[Provinces of Spain|province]] of [[Biscay]] and in the [[Basque Country (greater region)|Basque Country]] as a whole. With a population of 347,342 as of 2024, it is the [[Ranked lists of Spanish municipalities#By population|11th-largest city in Spain]], and the largest in [[Geography of Spain|northern Spain]].<ref name="population" /> The [[Bilbao metropolitan area]] has 1,037,847 inhabitants,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://population-statistics.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=es&des=wg&geo=-72&srt=pnan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&va=&pt=a |title=Urban zones in Spain. World Gazetteer |publisher=Population-statistics.com |access-date=26 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004231141/http://population-statistics.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=es&des=wg&geo=-72&srt=pnan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&va=&pt=a |archive-date=4 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ingurumena.ejgv.euskadi.net/r49-565/es/contenidos/informacion/ptsv/es_1177/adjuntos/bilbo_c.pdf |title=Functional area. Bilbao Metropolitan Area. |access-date=26 June 2014 |archive-date=6 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006103855/http://www.ingurumena.ejgv.euskadi.net/r49-565/es/contenidos/informacion/ptsv/es_1177/adjuntos/bilbo_c.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="AUDES">[http://alarcos.inf-cr.uclm.es/per/fruiz/pobesp/dat/arc/areas-pob.xls Proyecto Audes] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822104405/http://alarcos.inf-cr.uclm.es/per/fruiz/pobesp/dat/arc/areas-pob.xls |date=22 August 2011 }}</ref> making it the most populous [[metropolitan area]] in northern Spain. The [[Comarcas of the Basque Country|comarca]] of [[Greater Bilbao]] is the fifth-largest urban area in Spain. Bilbao is also the main urban area in what is defined as the [[Basque Country (greater region)|Greater Basque region]].

Bilbao is located in the north-central part of Spain, some {{convert|16|km|mi|0}} south of the [[Bay of Biscay]], where the economic social development is located, where the [[estuary of Bilbao]] is formed. Its main urban core is surrounded by two small [[mountain range]]s with an average elevation of {{convert|400|m}}.<ref name="cadenas">[[#qui01|Quiroga 2001]]: 17</ref> Its climate is shaped by the Bay of Biscay low-pressure systems and mild air, moderating summer temperatures by [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberian]] standards, with low sunshine and high rainfall. The annual temperature range is low for its latitude.

After its foundation in the late 13th century by [[Diego López V de Haro]], head of the powerful [[House of Haro|Haro]] family, Bilbao was one of the commercial hubs of the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] that enjoyed significant importance in the [[Crown of Castile]]. This was due to its thriving [[Port of Bilbao|port activity]] based on the export of wool and iron commodities extracted from the Biscayan quarries to all over [[Europe]].

Throughout the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth, Bilbao experienced heavy industrialisation, making it the centre of the second-most industrialised region of Spain, behind [[Barcelona]].<ref name="laria">[[#ria98|De La Puerta Rueda 1998]]: 73</ref><ref>[[#gom79|Gómez Piñeiro 1979]]: 169</ref> At the same time an extraordinary population explosion prompted the annexation of several adjacent municipalities. Nowadays, Bilbao is a vigorous [[service sector|service city]] that is experiencing an ongoing social, economic, and aesthetic revitalisation process, started by the iconic [[Bilbao Guggenheim Museum]],<ref name="laria" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=From Pintxos to Modern Art: Why Bilbao Should Be on Your Travel List – Europe Guidebook |date=5 April 2023 |url=https://europeguidebook.com/bilbao |access-date=2023-04-05 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Iglesias | first1 = Lucía | date = September 1998 | title = Bilbao: The Guggenheim effect | journal = [[The UNESCO Courier]] | publisher = [[UNESCO]] | page = 41 | url = http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001133/113355e.pdf#113376 | issn = 0041-5278 | access-date = 19 October 2010 | archive-date = 7 April 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120407023733/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001133/113355e.pdf#113376 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="guggen">{{cite web | url = http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/875&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN | title = Europe needs to multiply 'Guggenheim effect' to stay attractive, Hübner tells World Investment Conference in La Baule | publisher = [[Europa (web portal)]] | date = 5 June 2008 | access-date = 19 October 2010 | archive-date = 31 December 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081231224441/http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP%2F08%2F875&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN | url-status = live }}</ref> and continued by infrastructure investments, such as the [[Bilbao Airport|airport terminal]], the [[Metro Bilbao|rapid transit system]], the [[Bilbao tram|tram line]], the [[Azkuna Zentroa]], and the currently under development [[Abandoibarra]] and [[Zorrozaurre]] [[urban renewal|renewal]] projects.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.proyectosbilbao.com/index.html | title = Proyectos de Bilbao | work = [[El Correo]] | access-date = 20 October 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101026020025/http://www.proyectosbilbao.com/index.html | archive-date = 26 October 2010 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Bilbao is also home to [[association football|football]] team [[Athletic Bilbao|Athletic Club]], a significant symbol for [[Basque nationalism]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://footballcitizens.com/nacionalismo-vasco-athletic-club-bilbao/|title=El nacionalismo vasco en la historia del Athletic Club de Bilbao|access-date=18 September 2018|archive-date=18 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918194147/https://footballcitizens.com/nacionalismo-vasco-athletic-club-bilbao/|url-status=live}}</ref> due to its [[Athletic Bilbao signing policy|promotion of only Basque players]] and being one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football history.

On 19 May 2010, the city of Bilbao was recognised with the [[Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize]], awarded by the city state of [[Singapore]].<ref>{{cite web |url =http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20100630/vizcaya/bilbao-ejemplo-urbanistico-para-20100630.html |title =Bilbao, un ejemplo urbanístico para el mundo |date =30 June 2010 |access-date =30 June 2010 |archive-date =2 July 2010 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100702154215/http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20100630/vizcaya/bilbao-ejemplo-urbanistico-para-20100630.html |url-status =live }}</ref> Considered the Nobel Prize for [[urbanism]], it was handed out on 29 June 2010. On 7 January 2013, its mayor, [[Iñaki Azkuna]], received the 2012 [[World Mayor]] Prize awarded every two years by the British foundation The City Mayors Foundation, in recognition of the urban transformation experienced by the Biscayan capital since the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/20130107/local/inaki-azkuna-galardonado-como-201301072141.html |title=Azkuna: "El premio no es para mí, sino para los bilbaínos" |access-date=7 January 2013 |archive-date=8 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108235030/http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/20130107/local/inaki-azkuna-galardonado-como-201301072141.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Tann vom Hove |title=Iñaki Azkuna, Mayor of Bilbao, Spain awarded the 2012 World Mayor Prize |url=http://www.worldmayor.com/contest_2012/world-mayor-12-results.html |access-date=13 January 2013 |work=World Mayor. The 2012 Project |date=8 January 2013 |archive-date=11 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111083758/http://www.worldmayor.com/contest_2012/world-mayor-12-results.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 8 November 2017, Bilbao was chosen the Best European City 2018 at The Urbanism Awards 2018, awarded by the international organisation The Academy of Urbanism.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bilbao, elegida Mejor Ciudad Europea 2018 |work=EITB |url=http://www.eitb.eus/es/pueblos-ciudades/detalle/5197379/bilbao-elegida-mejor-ciudad-europea-2018/ |access-date=8 November 2017 |archive-date=9 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109080738/http://www.eitb.eus/es/pueblos-ciudades/detalle/5197379/bilbao-elegida-mejor-ciudad-europea-2018/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==  Toponymy and symbols ==
The official name of the town is Bilbao, as known in most languages of the world. [[Euskaltzaindia]], the official regulatory institution of the [[Basque language]], has agreed that between the two possible names existing in Basque, ''Bilbao'' and ''Bilbo'', the historical name is ''Bilbo'', while ''Bilbao'' is the official name.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.euskaltzaindia.net/index.php?option=com_eoda&Itemid=191&lang=eu&view=frontpage | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090730011412/http://www.euskaltzaindia.net/index.php?option=com_eoda&Itemid=191&lang=eu&view=frontpage | url-status = dead | archive-date = 30 July 2009 | title = Euskal Onomastikaren Datutegia | publisher = [[Euskaltzaindia]] | access-date = 7 October 2010 | language = eu }}</ref> Although the term ''Bilbo'' does not appear in old documents, in the play ''[[The Merry Wives of Windsor]]'' by [[William Shakespeare]], there is a reference to swords presumably made of [[Biscay]]an iron which he calls "[[bilbo (sword)|bilboes]]", suggesting that it is a word used since at least the sixteenth century.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://gladius.revistas.csic.es/index.php/gladius/article/viewFile/90/91 | title = La producción de armas blancas en Bilbao durante el Siglo XVI | author = Dueñas Beraiz, Germán | publisher = Gladius XXI | year = 2001 | access-date = 19 July 2008 | archive-date = 24 January 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090124071948/http://gladius.revistas.csic.es/index.php/gladius/article/viewFile/90/91 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yT2YBt-iHgcC&q=bilbao&pg=PA51|title=Shakespeare's military language|access-date=10 April 2011|isbn=9780826477774|year=2004|last1=Edelman|first1=Charles|publisher=A&C Black |archive-date=17 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217062409/https://books.google.com/books?id=yT2YBt-iHgcC&q=bilbao&pg=PA51|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[[#beas99|Beascoechea 1999]]: 138</ref><ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Bilbo |volume=3 |page=931}}</ref>

There is no consensus among historians about the origin of the name. Generally accepted accounts state that prior to the 12th century, the independent rulers of the territory, named Lords of Zubialdea, were also known as Lords of Bilbao la Vieja ("Old Bilbao"). The symbols of their patrimony are the tower and church used in the shield of Bilbao to this day.<ref>''Historia de Vizcaya a través de la prensa'', Volume 2</ref> One possible origin was suggested by the engineer [[Evaristo de Churruca y Brunet|Evaristo de Churruca]]. He said that it was a Basque custom to name a place after its location. For Bilbao this would be the result of the union of the Basque words for river and cove: ''Bil-Ibaia-Bao''.<ref name="etymology">[[#qui01|Quiroga 2001]]: 41</ref> The historian José Tussel Gómez argues that it is just a natural evolution of the Spanish words ''bello vado'', beautiful ford.<ref>[[#tus04|Tusell 2004]]: 22.</ref> On the other hand, according to the writer Esteban Calle Iturrino, the name derives from the two settlements that existed on both banks of the estuary, rather than from the estuary itself. The first, where the present [[Casco Viejo]] is located, would be called ''billa'', which means stacking in Basque, after the configuration of the buildings. The second, on the left bank, where now [[Bilbo Zarra|Bilbao La Vieja]] is located, would be called ''vaho'', Spanish for mist or steam. From the union of these two derives the name Bilbao,<ref name="etymology"/> which was also written as ''Bilvao'' and ''Biluao'', as documented in its [[municipal charter]].<ref>{{cite web | author = Adeliño Ortega, Charo | title = Carta Puebla | work = Bilbao 700 | page = 6 | url = http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_1.pdf | access-date = 18 July 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080724095114/http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_1.pdf | archive-date = 24 July 2008 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> An ''-ao'' ending is also present in nearby [[Sestao]] and [[Ugao-Miraballes|Ugao]], that could be explained from Basque ''aho'', "mouth".

===Demonym===

The demonym is ''bilbaíno, -a''", although the popular pronunciation ''bilbaino/a'' (sic) is also frequent.<ref>{{cite web |author=Iñaki Azkuna |author-link=Iñaki Azkuna |date=February 2007 |url=http://www.bilbao.net/castella/residentes/vivebilbao/publicaciones/periodicobilbao/200702/pag07.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923191301/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/residentes/vivebilbao/publicaciones/periodicobilbao/200702/pag07.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-09-23 |title=Al mayor Robles |work=Bilbao Newspaper |editor=Bilbao City Council |access-date=19 July 2008 }}</ref> In [[Basque language|Basque]], it is ''bilbotar'', which is sometimes also used in Spanish, generally within the Basque Country.<ref>See examples in the following articles journalistic. For the female gender: [http://www.deia.com/es/printer/2007/11/27/bizkaia/herrialdeak/420800.php The Euskal Museum Herria opens an exhibition of the bilbotarra Mabi Revuelta.]{{dead link|date=January 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} For the male: [https://web.archive.org/web/20090123095721/http://www.deia.es/es/digital/bizkaia/2008/03/08/449427.php A bilbotarra will soon open the first Basque restaurant in Shanghai, with almost 90 traditional dishes]. In plural number: [http://www.gara.net/paperezkoa/20080509/76674/en/El/Festival/de/Cine/Fantastico/aterroriza%C2%BB//a/los/bilbotarras/ The Film Festival Fantastic «terrorizes» the bilbotarras]{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 
The village is affectionately known by its inhabitants as the ''{{lang|es|botxo}}'' meaning "hole", since it is surrounded by mountains.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euskonews.com/0313zbk/gaia31303es.html |title=The botxo: Etymology of a name of Bilbao |author=Gómez Pérez, Josu |editor=euskonews.com |date=9 September 2005 |access-date=25 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002123915/http://www.euskonews.com/0313zbk/gaia31303es.html |archive-date=2 October 2008}}</ref> The nickname ''botxero'' is derived from this nickname. Another nickname that Bilbao receives is that of ''chimbos'', which comes from birds that were hunted in large numbers in these places during the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/prensa/20070102/vizcaya/cazando-bilbao_20070102.html |editor=El Correo Español |title=Cazando Bilbao |author=Olmo |date=2 January 2007 |access-date=25 July 2008 |archive-date=22 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122205505/http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/prensa/20070102/vizcaya/cazando-bilbao_20070102.html |url-status=live }} See also [http://descargas.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/mcp/45700624322314985754679/016504.pdf?incr=1 Chimbos and Chimberos]{{dead link|date=January 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} of [[Miguel de Unamuno]].</ref>

The titles, the flag and the coat of arms are Bilbao's traditional symbols and belong to its historic patrimony, being used in formal acts, for the identification and decoration of specific places or for the validation of documents.

=== Titles ===
Bilbao holds the historic category of township (''villa''), with the titles of "Very noble and very loyal and unbeaten" (''Muy Noble y Muy Leal e Invicta''). It was the [[Catholic Monarchs]] who awarded the title "Noble Town" (''Noble Villa'') on 20 September 1475. [[Philip III of Spain]], via a letter in 1603 awarded the town the titles of "Very noble and very loyal".<ref>GUIARD LARRAURI, Teófilo y RODRÍGUEZ HERRERO, Ángel: ''Historia de la Noble Villa de Bilbao''. Editorial La Gran Enciclopedia Vasca, 1971. pag. 8</ref> After the [[siege of Bilbao]], during the [[First Carlist War]], on 25 December 1836, the title of "Unbeaten" was added.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.euskonews.com/0351zbk/gaia35103es.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060617101906/http://www.euskonews.com/0351zbk/gaia35103es.html | archive-date = 17 June 2006 | url-status = dead | author1 = AZPIAZU CANIVELL | author2 = Mª Dolores | title = La Sociedad El Sitio. Más de 130 años de liberalismo bilbaíno | editor = euskonews.com | access-date = 3 December 2008 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

=== Coat of arms ===
[[File:Escudo heráldico de Bilbao.svg|thumb|upright=0.6|The coat of arms of Bilbao]]
The [[coat of arms]] is [[blazon|emblazoned]] as follows:
{{blockquote|In a silver field a bridge with two eyes, added to the [[Church of Saint Anthony the Great|church of San Antón]] of its colour and to its sinister two sable wolves walking and in stick, on waves of azure and silver.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150603010831/http://www.bizkaia.net/udalnet/directorio_municipal/pdf/heral020.pdf Directory of municipal information.] Diputación de Vizcaya</ref>}}It has its origins in the 14th century and has remained with the same symbols since then, although its presentation has been adapted according to the destiny of the coat of arms. The durability of this shield is due to the representativeness of the symbols that appear. The navigable estuary and the stone bridge, prior to the founding of the town.  The wolves, typical of the coat of arms of the founder of the town in 1300, Diego López de Haro, son of Diego Lope Díaz de Haro (Lope comes from the Latin Lupus (wolf)) were added by the town council to represent the founder. Later, the fortress or castle that guarded the bridge was added and, when it was demolished in 1366, it was replaced by the temple of San Antón that was built in its place and inaugurated in 1433.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Basas |first=Manuel |url=https://www.bilbao.eus/bld/bitstream/handle/123456789/26356/06.pdf |title=Bilbao - Escudo de la Villa |location=Bilbao |pages=6 |language=Spanish |trans-title=Bilbao |chapter=El escudo de la villa de Bilbao}}</ref>

=== Flag ===
The flag that represents the city is white with a red block, in a ratio of three parts long by two wide. The colours red and white are the historical ones of the villa.

The Royal Order of 30 July 1845 determined the maritime password for the population. This was defined as a white flag with an upper red die next to the pod. The die should be square and the length of its side should equal half of the pod. Previously, at least since 1511, the banner that the '' Bilbao Consulate '' was wearing was white with a red [[Cross of Burgundy]]. The relationship of the town with the mercantile and marine activities was always very strong coming to share headquarters. In 1603 the new consistorial house is inaugurated and in it the headquarters of the city council and of the referred one '' Bilbao Consulate '' are located. The intimate relationship made the flag of the Consulate was related as a flag of the town by citizenship.

The definition of the maritime flag in 1845 was assumed by the population, who accepted it as their own, and so did the city council. At the inauguration of the Bilbao-Miranda de Ebro railway line, it was already used as a symbol of the town's representation, being permanently adopted in 1895 although no resolution has been adopted for this purpose.<ref>[http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/20090503/vizcaya/bandera-nuestros-padres-20090503.html «Una bandera de nuestros padres.»] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506175515/http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/20090503/vizcaya/bandera-nuestros-padres-20090503.html |date=6 May 2009 }} "El Correo".</ref>

Although it has always been assumed by the municipal institution and citizenship, at the beginning of the 20th century it was discussed in a municipal plenary session about the determination of a flag for the town. There was talk about "the use of the crimson colour of the [[Lordship of Biscay]], or of the [[Saltire|cross of Saint Andrew]]" but without reaching any resolution to the effect.<ref>[http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/20090503/vizcaya/bandera-maritima-bilbao-20090503.html The maritime flag of Bilbao. The city has adopted the banner created in 1845 for merchant ships, but the City Council has not officially adopted it.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506175413/http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/20090503/vizcaya/bandera-maritima-bilbao-20090503.html |date=6 May 2009 }} "El Correo".</ref>

== History ==
{{see also|Timeline of Bilbao}}

=== Prehistory ===
Remains of an ancient settlement were found on the top of Mount [[Malmasín]], dating from around the 3rd or 2nd century BC.<ref>{{cite web|author=Asociación de Periodistas de Vizcaya |title=Crónica de siete siglos |work=Bilbao 700 |page=24 |url=http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_2.pdf |access-date=17 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724095226/http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_2.pdf |archive-date=24 July 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="settlements">[[#san06|Sánchez-Beascoetxea 2006]]: 28</ref> Burial sites were also found on mounts Avril and Artxanda, dated 6,000 years old. Some authors identify the old settlement of Bilbao as ''Amanun Portus'', cited by [[Pliny the Elder]], or with ''Flaviobriga'', by [[Ptolemy]].<ref name="settlements"/>

=== Medieval Bilbao ===
[[File:Don Diego López de Haro V.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.7|Statue of [[Diego López V de Haro]], founder of the city]]
Ancient walls, which date from around the 11th century, have been discovered below the [[Church of San Antón]].<ref name="settlements"/> Bilbao was founded at the very end of the thirteen century, kick-starting a period in the fourteenth century, during which approximately three-quarters of the [[Biscay]]an cities were developed, among them [[Portugalete]] in 1323, [[Ondarroa]] in 1327, [[Lekeitio]] in 1335, and [[Mungia]] and [[Larrabetzu]] in 1376.<ref>Gómez Piñeiro 1979: 96</ref> [[Diego López V de Haro]], then third [[Lordship of Biscay|Lord of Biscay]], founded Bilbao through a [[municipal charter]] dated in [[Valladolid]] on 15 June 1300 and confirmed by King [[Ferdinand IV of Castile]] in [[Burgos]], on 4 January 1301. Diego López established the new town on the right bank of the [[Nervión river]], on the grounds of the ''[[elizate]]'' of [[Begoña]] and granted it the ''[[fuero]]'' of [[Logroño]], a compilation of rights and privileges that would prove fundamental to its later development.<ref>[[#tus04|Tussel Gómez 2004]]: 19</ref>

In 1310 [[María Díaz I de Haro]], niece of Diego López V and Lady of Biscay, grants a new municipal charter to the city, which extends its commercial privileges even further, transforming the city in a mandatory stop for all the trade coming from [[Castile (historical region)|Castile]] towards the sea. This second charter established that the road from [[Orduña-Urduña|Orduña]] to [[Bermeo]], at the time the most important trade route in the lordship, had to traverse the [[San Antón Bridge]] in Bilbao instead of the pass in [[Etxebarri]], as it did until then. This strengthened the position of Bilbao as a trading post, in detriment of Bermeo, city which until then had acted as the main port of the territory.<ref>MONTERO, Manuel. p. 11.</ref> In addition, Bilbao was granted exclusive rights to all trade between the city and [[Las Arenas]]. In 1372, [[John I of Castile]] strengthened even more the city's position by naming Bilbao a [[Free economic zone|free port]] and granting it special privileges concerning the trade of iron.<ref name="Privileges">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bilbao.net/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1272986929362&language=es&pageid=1272986929362&pagename=BilbaoIzan%2FPage%2FBIZ_contenidoFinal |title=Brief History of the City (in Spanish) |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923191654/http://www.bilbao.net/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1272986929362&language=es&pageid=1272986929362&pagename=BilbaoIzan%2FPage%2FBIZ_contenidoFinal |url-status=live }}</ref> This caused Bilbao to become an important port, particularly due to its trade with [[Flanders]] and Great Britain.

In 1443 the [[Church of Saint Anthony the Great]] was enshrined, having been built in the place of an old ''[[alcázar]]''. Still today the church is one of the oldest extant buildings of the city. On 5 September 1483, the Queen [[Isabella I of Castile]] traveled to Bilbao to swear fealty to the fueros of [[Lordship of Biscay|Biscay]]. Her husband, [[Ferdinand II of Aragon]] had already done so in 1476 in [[Gernika]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Beascoechea Madina|1999|p=199}}</ref>

=== Modern age ===
[[File:Bilbao1575.jpg|thumb|right|First engraving of the city, made by [[Franz Hohenberg]] in 1544]]
On 21 June 1511, Queen [[Joanna of Castile]] ordered the creation of the [[Consulate of the Sea]] of Bilbao. This would become the most influential institution of the borough for centuries, and would claim jurisdiction over the estuary, improving its infrastructure. Under the Consulate's control, the [[port of Bilbao]] became one of the most important of the kingdom.<ref>[[#tus04|Tussel Gómez 2004]]: 26</ref> The first [[printing-press]] was brought to the town in 1577. Here in 1596, the first book in the [[Basque language]] was edited, entitled ''Doctrina Christiana en Romance y Bascuence'' by Dr. Betolaza.<ref>Beascoechea 1999: 104</ref>

In 1602 Bilbao was made the capital of [[Biscay]], a title previously held by [[Bermeo]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbaoport.es/aPBW/web/es/sociedad/visitabilbao/excursiones/bermeo.jsp | publisher = [[Port of Bilbao|Bilbaoport.es]] | title = Un día perfecto en Bermeo y Gernika | access-date = 17 September 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080923055720/http://www.bilbaoport.es/aPBW/web/es/sociedad/visitabilbao/excursiones/bermeo.jsp | archive-date = 23 September 2008 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Around 1631, the city was the scenario of a series of revolts against the increased taxation on salt, which had been ordered by the Crown, an event locally known as the "''Machinada'' of the salt". The revolt ended with the execution of several of its leaders.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Zabala Uriarte |first=Aingeru |date=17 September 2008 |title=Crónica de siete siglos |url=http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_2.pdf |journal=Bilbao 700 |page=40 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724095226/http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_2.pdf |archive-date=24 July 2008 |access-date=17 August 2018}}</ref> The city had seen a continuous increase of its wealth, especially after the discovery of extensive iron deposits in the surrounding mountains, and by the end of the century it managed to overcome the economic crises that affected the rest of the kingdom, thanks in part to the increased trading of wool (which now used the port of Bilbao instead of the one in [[Santander, Spain|Santander]]), and to the iron ore and its commerce with England and the Netherlands.

=== Contemporary Bilbao ===

==== Napoleonic invasion and Carlist wars ====
[[File:Ataque al Puente de Luchana.jpg|thumb|left|The Battle of Luchana]]
The [[First French Empire|French]] invasion of Spain saw the occupation of several Basque cities, but Bilbao was not among them. The first open uprising against [[Kingdom of Spain under Joseph Bonaparte|Napoleonic rule]] took place on 6 August 1808, a month after the [[Battle of Bailén]]. French troops sieged and sacked the city, alongside the neighbouring towns of Deusto and Begoña on 16 August. Beginning in February 1810, the city was under the command of [[Pierre Thouvenot]], general of the French army and [[Nobility of the First French Empire|Baron of the Empire]], who had become the head of the Military Government of ''Vizcaya'', which included the three Basque provinces. Thouvenot intended to move forward with the plan of total annexation of the Basque provinces into France,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bilbao.net/castella/residentes/vivebilbao/publicaciones/periodicobilbao/200701/pag36.pdf |title=Los hospitales militares y civiles de Bilbao durante la Guerra de la Independencia |last=Gondra |first=Juan |date=January 2007 |website=Bilbao City Hall |access-date=15 October 2008 |archive-date=24 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124082807/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/residentes/vivebilbao/publicaciones/periodicobilbao/200701/pag36.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> but the [[Peninsular War]] and ultimately the [[Battle of Vitoria]] made those plans impossible.
[[File:Bilboko irudi historikoa.jpg|thumb|right|Engraving depicting the city in the 18th century]]
The [[Basque Country (greater region)|Basque Country]] was one of the main sites of battles during the [[First Carlist War]], a civil war between supporters of the Spanish regent [[Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies|Maria Christina]], known as liberals, and those of the late king's brother [[Infante Carlos, Count of Molina|Carlos of Borbón]], known as Carlists. The [[Carlism|Carlists]] were particularly focused on capturing Bilbao, a liberal and economic bastion in northern Spain.<ref>Quiroga 2001: 68</ref> The Carlist general [[Tomás de Zumalacárregui]] tried to take the city during the siege of Bilbao of 1835, but he was wounded during a battle near [[Begoña]] and died some time after in the town of [[Zegama]]. The next year, the city resisted a second siege during which the liberal general [[Baldomero Espartero, Prince of Vergara|Baldomero Espartero]] defeated the Carlists in the [[Battle of Luchana]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Sánchez-Beaskoetxea|2006|p=42}}</ref> The city was untouched by the [[Second Carlist War]], which took place mostly in [[Catalonia]], but was again an important scenario during the [[Third Carlist War]]; in April 1874 the city suffered a third siege which lasted two months.<ref name=autogenerated3>{{Harvnb|Sánchez-Beaskoetxea|2006|p=44}}</ref>

Despite the warfare, Bilbao prospered during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, when it rose as the economic centre of the Basque Country. It was during this time that the railway first arrived to the city and the Bank of Bilbao (which later would go on to become the [[BBVA]]) was founded, as well as the Bilbao Stock Exchange. Steelmaking industries flourished with the creation of many new factories, including the Santa Ana de Bolueta and the [[Altos Hornos de Vizcaya]] in 1902. The city was modernised with new avenues and walkways, as well as with new modern buildings such as the [[Bilbao City Hall|City Hall building]], the Basurto Hospital and the [[Teatro Arriaga|Arriaga Theatre]].<ref name=autogenerated3 /> The population increased dramatically, from 11,000 in 1880 to 80,000 in 1900. Social movements also arose, notably [[Basque nationalism]] under [[Sabino Arana]], which in the subsequent decades would grow to become the [[Basque Nationalist Party]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Montero, Manuel |title=Crónica de siete siglos |work=Bilbao 700 |page=48 |url=http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_2.pdf |access-date=15 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724095226/http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_2.pdf |archive-date=24 July 2008  }}</ref>

==== Civil war and Francoist dictatorship ====
[[File:Bilboko portuaren bonbardaketa.jpg|thumb|left|Bombing of Bilbao during the Civil War, 5 June 1937]]
The [[Spanish Civil War]] in Bilbao started with a number of small uprisings suppressed by the [[Republican faction (Spanish Civil War)|Republican]] forces. On 31 August 1936, the city suffered its first bombing, with multiple bombings by [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|Nationalist]] bombers. In September, the Nationalists distributed pamphlets threatening further bombing if the city did not give up, which finally took place on 25 September when German planes, in coordination with Francoist forces, dropped at least a hundred bombs on the city.<ref>Quiroga 2001: 84</ref> In May 1937, the Nationalist army besieged the town. The battle lasted until 19 June of that year, when Lieutenant Colonel Putz was ordered to destroy all bridges over the estuary, and the troops of the 5th Brigade took the borough from the mountains Malmasin, Pagasarri, and Arnotegi.<ref>Sánchez-Beaskoetxea 2006: 48</ref>

With the war over, Bilbao returned to its industrial development, accompanied by steady population growth. In the 1940s, the city was rebuilt, starting with the bridges and by 1948, the first commercial flight took off from the local [[Bilbao Airport|airport]].<ref>Tussel 2004: 187</ref> Over the next decade, there was a revival of the iron industry, which became a strategic industrial sector in Spain, as a consequence of the economic model promoted by [[Francoism]]. The city received migrants from other Spanish regions looking to work in the iron industry. The demand for housing outstripped supply, and workers built slums on the hillsides.<ref name="franquism">Quiroga 2001: 96</ref> It was in this context that the first social movements arose and the strike of the ''Euskalduna'' shipyard in 1947 was the first one to take place during the Francoist dictatorship. In this environment of social repression, on 31 July 1959 the separatist organisation [[ETA (separatist group)|ETA]] was created from Basque nationalist movements.<ref name="franquism"/> During the 1960s the city was the scenario of several urban projects, with the creation of new neighbourhoods like Otxarkoaga and the motorway to the French border. In June 1968 the University of Bilbao, the first public university, was established. It would later be integrated into the [[University of the Basque Country]].

==== Democracy and urban renewal ====
[[File:Abandoibarra3.jpg|thumb|right|[[Abandoibarra]] and the [[Guggenheim Museum Bilbao|Guggenheim Museum]] from the [[Iberdrola Tower]]]]
After the end of [[Spanish State|Francoist Spain]] and the establishment of a [[constitutional monarchy]], in a process known in Spain as [[Spanish transition to democracy|the transition]], Bilbao was able to hold democratic elections again. This time [[Basque nationalism|Basque nationalists]] rose to power.<ref>[[#tus04|Tussel 2004]]: 194</ref> With the approval of the [[Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country]] in 1979, [[Vitoria-Gasteiz]] was elected the seat of the government and therefore the ''de facto'' capital of the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Autonomous Community]], although Bilbao was larger and more powerful economically. In the 1980s, several factors such as labour demands and the arrival of cheap labour from abroad led to a devastating industrial crisis.<ref name="franquism"/>

On 26 August 1983 during the celebration of the local festivities known as ''[[Aste Nagusia]]'', the estuary overflowed up to five metres in some areas due to the continuous raining, killing two people and causing important destructions in the city's infrastructure, with a total economic cost that reached 60,000 million [[Spanish peseta|pesetas]] (around €360 million)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/BURGOS/CANTABRIA/PAiS_VASCO/34/muertos/Euskadi/Cantabria/Burgos/balance/provisional/elpepiesp/19830901elpepinac_13/Tes/ |title=34 muertos en Euskadi, 4 en Cantabria y 1 en Burgos, balance provisional |last=Ridruejo |first=Carmelo |date=1 September 1983 |work=El País |access-date=8 December 2009 |archive-date=11 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111202501/http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/BURGOS/CANTABRIA/PAIS_VASCO/34/muertos/Euskadi/Cantabria/Burgos/balance/provisional/elpepiesp/19830901elpepinac_13/Tes |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since the mid-1990s, Bilbao has been in a process of deindustrialization and transition to a service economy, supported by investment in infrastructure and [[urban renewal]], starting with the opening of the [[Bilbao Guggenheim Museum]] (the so-called ''Guggenheim effect''),<ref name="guggen"/> and continuing with the [[Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall]], [[Santiago Calatrava]]'s [[Zubizuri]], the [[Metro Bilbao|metro network]] by [[Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank|Norman Foster]], the [[Bilbao tram|tram]], the [[Iberdrola Tower]] and the [[Zorrozaurre]] development plan, among others. Many officially supported associations such as Bilbao Metrópoli-30 and Bilbao Ría 2000 were created to monitor these projects.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bm30.es/homeage_es.html | title = Agentes del proceso de revitalización | publisher = BM30 | access-date = 16 October 2008 | archive-date = 20 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110720135704/http://www.bm30.es/homeage_es.html | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbaoria2000.org/ria2000/cas/bilbaoRia/bilbaoRia.aspx?primeraVez=0 | title = BILBAO Ría 2000 ¿Qué es? | publisher = Bilbao Ría 2000 | access-date = 15 October 2008 | archive-date = 25 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725073505/http://www.bilbaoria2000.org/ria2000/cas/bilbaoRia/bilbaoRia.aspx?primeraVez=0 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
{{clear left}}

== Geography ==
Bilbao is located near the northern edge of the [[Iberian Peninsula]], about {{convert|16|km|mi|0}} from the [[Bay of Biscay]].<ref>[[#ria98|Montero 1998]]: 37.</ref> It covers an area of {{convert|40.65|km2|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|17.35|km2}} are urban and the remaining {{convert|23.30|km2}} consist of the surrounding mountains.<ref name="district demography">{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbao.net/castella/relaciones_ciudadanas/publicaciones/bilbao_en_cifras/2007/territorio_climatologia.pdf | title = Superficie, población y densidad por distritos. 2007 | publisher = Bilbao City Council | year = 2007 | access-date = 19 July 2008 | archive-date = 24 January 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090124082029/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/relaciones_ciudadanas/publicaciones/bilbao_en_cifras/2007/territorio_climatologia.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> The official average altitude is {{convert|19|m|ft}}, although there are measurements between {{convert|6|m}} and {{convert|32|m}}.<ref>[[#gom79|Gómez Piñeiro 1979]]: 35</ref> It is also the core of the ''[[Comarcas of the Basque Country|comarca]]'' of [[Greater Bilbao]]. It is surrounded by the municipalities of [[Derio]], [[Etxebarri]], [[Galdakao]], [[Loiu]], [[Sondika]], and [[Zamudio]] to the north; [[Arrigorriaga]] and [[Basauri]] to the west; [[Alonsotegi]] to the south; and [[Barakaldo]] and [[Erandio]] to the east.

Bilbao is located on the [[Basque Mountains|Basque threshold]], the range between the larger [[Cantabrian Mountains]] and the [[Pyrenees]].<ref name="orography">[[#gom79|Gómez Piñeiro 1979]]: 38</ref> The soil is predominantly composed of [[mesozoic]] materials ([[limestone]], [[sandstone]], and [[marl]]) sedimented over a primitive [[paleozoic]] base.<ref name="orography"/> The relief of the province is dominated by NW-SE and WNW-ESE oriented folds. The main fold is the [[anticline]] of Bilbao which runs from the municipality of [[Elorrio]] to [[Galdames]].<ref name="orography"/> Inside Bilbao there are two secondary folds, one in the northeast, composed of Mounts [[Artxanda]], Avril, Banderas, Pikota, San Bernabé, and Cabras; and other in the south, composed of Mounts Kobetas, Restaleku, [[Pagasarri]] and Arraiz. The highest point in the municipality is Mount Ganeta, of {{convert|689|m}}, followed by Mount Pagasarri, of {{convert|673|m}}, both on the border with Alonsotegi.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbao.net/castella/ciudad/plano_callejero.pdf | title = Plano callejero de Bilbao | publisher = Bilbao City Council | access-date = 7 October 2010 | archive-date = 1 June 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100601082957/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/ciudad/plano_callejero.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref>

=== Hydrology ===

{{main|Estuary of Bilbao}}
[[File:Edificio Museoalde30.jpg|thumb|The [[estuary of Bilbao]] in the city]]
The main river system of Bilbao is also the hydrological artery of Biscay. The rivers [[Nervión]] and [[Ibaizabal]] converge in [[Basauri]] and form an [[estuary]] named variously "[[estuary of Bilbao]]", "of the Nervión", "of the Ibaizabal", or "of the Nervión-Ibaizabal".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ietb.bizkaia.net/index.asp?idMenu=1&idMenuSiguiente=-1&idioma=CA |title=Ríos de Bizkaia |author1=Orive, Emma |author2=Rallo, Ana |name-list-style=amp |publisher=Diputación Foral de Bizkaia: Instituto de Estudios Territoriales de Bizkaia |date=October 2002 |access-date=24 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123110944/http://ietb.bizkaia.net/index.asp?idMenu=1&idMenuSiguiente=-1&idioma=CA |archive-date=23 January 2009  }}</ref> The estuary runs for {{convert|15|km}} and with a low flow (with an average of {{convert|25|m3|0|abbr=on}} per second).<ref name="estuary">{{cite web | url = http://www.euskonews.com/0017zbk/gaia1701es.html | title = Bioindicadores de recuperación en la Ría de Bilbao | author1 = Saiz Salinas | author2 = José I. | publisher = euskonews.com | access-date = 25 July 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080619202916/http://www.euskonews.com/0017zbk/gaia1701es.html | archive-date = 19 June 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Its main tributary is the river [[Cadagua]], which rises in the [[Valle de Mena|Mena valley]] and has a basin of {{convert|642|km2}}, mostly lying in the neighbouring province of [[Burgos]].<ref>[[#gom79|Gómez Piñeiro 1979]]: 77</ref> This river is also the natural border between Bilbao and Barakaldo.

The river has frequently suffered from human intervention, as seen in the dredging of its bottom, the building of docks on both banks and especially in the Deusto canal, an artificial [[waterway]] dug between 1950 and 1968 in the district of [[Deusto]] as a [[lateral canal]], with the aim of facilitating navigation, sparing ships from the natural curves of the estuary.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbao.net/castella/residentes/vivebilbao/publicaciones/periodicobilbao/200603/pag35.pdf | title = La ría y el canal de Deustu | publisher = Periódico Bilbao | date = March 2006 | access-date = 25 July 2008 | author = Uriarte, Iñaki | archive-date = 24 January 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090124082032/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/residentes/vivebilbao/publicaciones/periodicobilbao/200603/pag35.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> The project was stopped with {{convert|400|m}} left to complete, and it was decided to leave it as a dock.<ref>[[#ria98|Santos Sabrás 1998]]: 60</ref> However, in 2007, a plan was approved to continue the canal and form the island of [[Zorrozaurre]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.deia.com/es/digital/bizkaia/2007/10/05/406282.php | title = Las obras de urbanización de Zorrozaurre, en Bilbao, que tendrán un coste de 291 millones de euros, comenzarán en 2010 | work=[[Deia (newspaper)|Deia]] | access-date = 31 October 2007 | date = 5 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222005436/http://www.deia.com/es/digital/bizkaia/2007/10/05/406282.php |archive-date=22 February 2008 }}</ref> This human intervention has also brought negative results in the quality of the water, after decades of toxic waste dumping causing a situation of [[anoxic waters|anoxia]] (lack of oxygen), which almost eliminated the entire fauna and flora.<ref name="estuary"/> However, in recent years this situation is being reversed, thanks to a dumping ban and natural regeneration.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bajoelagua.com/articulos/vida-marina/2162.htm | title = Vuelve la vida a la Ría de Bilbao | publisher = bajoelagua.com | date = 7 February 2006 | access-date = 25 July 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080908075600/http://www.bajoelagua.com/articulos/vida-marina/2162.htm | archive-date = 8 September 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> now it is possible to observe [[algae]], [[tonguefish]]es, crabs, and [[seabird]]s,<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.elpais.com/articulo/pais/vasco/regeneracion/natural/ria/Bilbao/evita/acometer/limpieza/elpepuesppvs/20060122elpvas_4/Tes | title = La regeneración natural de la ría de Bilbao evita acometer su limpieza | work = [[El País]] | date = 22 January 2006 | access-date = 25 July 2008 | archive-date = 11 November 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111111202512/http://www.elpais.com/articulo/pais/vasco/regeneracion/natural/ria/Bilbao/evita/acometer/limpieza/elpepuesppvs/20060122elpvas_4/Tes | url-status = live }}</ref> as well as occasional bathers in the summer months.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20100702/vizcaya/recupera-banistas-20100702.html | title = La ría recupera los bañistas | work=[[El Correo]] | date = 2 July 2010 | access-date = 7 October 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101010094653/http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20100702/vizcaya/recupera-banistas-20100702.html| archive-date= 10 October 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

The estuary is also a natural border for several neighbourhoods and districts within the borough. Entering the municipality from the west it separates the districts of [[Begoña]] and [[Ibaiondo]], then [[Abando]] and [[Uribarri]] and lastly [[Deusto]] and [[Basurto-Zorroza]].

=== Climate ===

{{Main|Climate of Bilbao}}
[[File:Deustuko San Pedro-Erribera, Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain - panoramio (2).jpg|thumb|250px|left|Palm trees during a sunny day in Bilbao]]
Its proximity to the [[Bay of Biscay]] gives Bilbao an [[oceanic climate]] (''Cfb''), with precipitation occurring throughout the year and without a well-defined dry summer. Precipitation is abundant, and given the latitude and atmospheric dynamics, rainy days represent 45% and cloudy days 40% of the annual total.<ref>[[#gom79|Gómez Piñeiro 1979]]: 65</ref> The rainiest season is between October and April, November being the wettest. Snow is not frequent in Bilbao, although it is possible to see snow on the top of the surrounding mountains. [[Rain and snow mixed|Sleet]] is more frequent, about 10 days per year, mainly in the winter months.<ref>[[#gom79|Gómez Piñeiro 1979]]: 70</ref> Bilbao is nearest to the subtropical boundary of all the Atlantic coastal cities in the country with an August daily mean of {{convert|20.9|C|F}}.<ref name="Standard climate values for Bilbao">{{cite web|url=http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=1082&k=pva|title=Standard climate values for Bilbao|publisher=Aemet.es|access-date=23 July 2015|archive-date=23 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723075414/http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=1082&k=pva|url-status=live}}</ref> There is also a drying trend in summer with only around {{convert|50|mm|in}} of rainfall in July<ref name="Standard climate values for Bilbao"/> – but not dry enough to be considered Mediterranean.

The proximity of the ocean also means that the two best defined seasons (summer and winter) remain mild, with low intensity thermal oscillations. Average maximum temperatures vary between {{convert|25|and|26|°C|1|abbr=on}} in the summer months, while the average minimum in winter is between {{convert|6|and|7|°C|1|abbr=on}}.

Extreme record observations in Bilbao are {{convert|44.0|°C|1|abbr=on}} maximum (on 23 August 2023) and  {{convert|-8.6|°C|1|abbr=on}} minimum (on 3 February 1963). The maximum precipitation in a day was {{convert|225.6|mm|0|abbr=on}} on 26 August 1983 when [[1983 Spanish floods|severe flooding]] was caused by the Nervión river.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www2.bilbao.net/bilbaoturismo/castellano/cbureau/clima.htm | title = City Council climate information | publisher = Bilbao City Council | access-date = 7 October 2010 | archive-date = 17 December 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101217165523/http://www2.bilbao.net/bilbaoturismo/castellano/cbureau/clima.htm | url-status = live }}</ref>

{{Weather box
| location = Bilbao airport (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1947-present)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 25.1
| Feb record high C = 26.9
| Mar record high C = 30.1
| Apr record high C = 33.1
| May record high C = 36.4
| Jun record high C = 41.2
| Jul record high C = 42.0
| Aug record high C = 44.0
| Sep record high C = 41.7
| Oct record high C = 36.7
| Nov record high C = 27.7
| Dec record high C = 25.3
| year record high C = 44.0
| Jan high C = 13.5
| Feb high C = 14.2
| Mar high C = 16.6
| Apr high C = 18.1
| May high C = 21.0
| Jun high C = 23.5
| Jul high C = 25.4
| Aug high C = 26.3
| Sep high C = 24.5
| Oct high C = 21.5
| Nov high C = 16.6
| Dec high C = 14.1
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C = 9.5
| Feb mean C = 9.7
| Mar mean C = 11.6
| Apr mean C = 13.1
| May mean C = 16.0
| Jun mean C = 18.7
| Jul mean C = 20.6
| Aug mean C = 21.2
| Sep mean C = 19.2
| Oct mean C = 16.6
| Nov mean C = 12.5
| Dec mean C = 10.1
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = 5.3
| Feb low C = 5.1
| Mar low C = 6.7
| Apr low C = 8.1
| May low C = 11.0
| Jun low C = 13.8
| Jul low C = 15.8
| Aug low C = 16.1
| Sep low C = 13.9
| Oct low C = 11.6
| Nov low C = 8.3
| Dec low C = 6.1
| year low C = 
| Jan record low C = -7.6
| Feb record low C = -8.6
| Mar record low C = -5.0
| Apr record low C = -1.2
| May record low C = 0.4
| Jun record low C = 3.6
| Jul record low C = 6.6
| Aug record low C = 6.8
| Sep record low C = 3.8
| Oct record low C = 0.6
| Nov record low C = -6.2
| Dec record low C = -7.4
| year record low C = -8.6
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 130
| Feb precipitation mm = 109
| Mar precipitation mm = 98
| Apr precipitation mm = 97
| May precipitation mm = 76
| Jun precipitation mm = 58
| Jul precipitation mm = 52
| Aug precipitation mm = 53
| Sep precipitation mm = 75
| Oct precipitation mm = 112
| Nov precipitation mm = 171
| Dec precipitation mm = 127
| year precipitation mm = 
| Jan precipitation days = 12.8
| Feb precipitation days = 11.1
| Mar precipitation days = 10.5
| Apr precipitation days = 12.0
| May precipitation days = 10.3
| Jun precipitation days = 7.2
| Jul precipitation days = 7.4
| Aug precipitation days = 7.4
| Sep precipitation days = 8.9
| Oct precipitation days = 10.7
| Nov precipitation days = 13.7
| Dec precipitation days = 12.4
| year precipitation days = 
| Jan snow days = 0.3
| Feb snow days = 0.7
| Mar snow days = 0.3
| Apr snow days = 0
| May snow days = 0
| Jun snow days = 0
| Jul snow days = 0
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0
| Oct snow days = 0
| Nov snow days = 0.1
| Dec snow days = 0.3
| year snow days = 
| Jan humidity = 73
| Feb humidity = 70
| Mar humidity = 68
| Apr humidity = 69
| May humidity = 69
| Jun humidity = 71
| Jul humidity = 72
| Aug humidity = 71
| Sep humidity = 72
| Oct humidity = 71
| Nov humidity = 74
| Dec humidity = 73
| year humidity = 
| Jan sun = 81
| Feb sun = 96
| Mar sun = 136
| Apr sun = 144
| May sun = 177
| Jun sun = 180
| Jul sun = 186
| Aug sun = 183
| Sep sun = 162
| Oct sun = 130
| Nov sun = 84
| Dec sun = 81
| year sun = 
| Jan percentsun = 28
| Feb percentsun = 32
| Mar percentsun = 36
| Apr percentsun = 36
| May percentsun = 38
| Jun percentsun = 39
| Jul percentsun = 40
| Aug percentsun = 43
| Sep percentsun = 43
| Oct percentsun = 38
| Nov percentsun = 29
| Dec percentsun = 28
| year percentsun = 
| source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=1082&k=48 |title=Valores climatológicos normales. Bilbao Aeropuerto |work=[[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]] |access-date=7 June 2020 |language=es |archive-date=7 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607145803/http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=1082&k=48 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| date = January 2015
| source 2 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos?w=0&k=pva&l=1082&datos=det |title=Valores extremos. Bilbao Aeropuerto |work=[[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]] |access-date=7 June 2020 |language=es |archive-date=7 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607145804/http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos?w=0&k=pva&l=1082&datos=det |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=08025&ano=2021&mes=12&day=30&hora=18&min=0&ndays=30|title= 08025: Bilbao / Sondica (Spain)|author= <!--Not stated-->|date= 29 December 2021|website= ogimet.com|publisher= OGIMET|access-date= 30 December 2021|quote= |archive-date= 30 December 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211230214905/https://ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=08025&ano=2021&mes=12&day=30&hora=18&min=0&ndays=30|url-status= live}}</ref>
| source = 
}}

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations|1842|15963|1857|29056|1877|42899|1887|61912|1900|92284|1910|106302|1920|135625|1930|158597|1940|194194|1950|218519|1960|296664|1970|405908|1981|433115|1991|369839|2001|349972|2011|351356|2021|345749|source=[[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|INE]]<ref>{{cite web|title=INEbase. Alterations to the municipalities in the Population Censuses since 1842|url=https://www.ine.es/intercensal/intercensal.do|publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Spain)|National Statistics Institute]]}}</ref>}}According to [[INE (Spain)|INE]], the population of Bilbao is 347,342 people as of 2024,<ref name="population" /> distributed on a land area of {{convert|40.59|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, making Bilbao the largest city by population of the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Autonomous Community]] and of the [[Basque Country (greater region)|Basque Country]] as a whole. Bilbao makes the main component of the [[Bilbao metropolitan area]], with a population of 1,037,847 people.

The first credible data on the population of Bilbao are post-1550.<ref name="earlypop">[[#gom79|Gómez Piñeiro 1979]]: 96</ref> It is known that in 1530 [[Biscay]] had approximately 65,000 inhabitants, a number that could have been reduced by [[Plague (disease)|plagues]] that struck the city in 1517, 1530, 1564–68, and 1597–1601, the last being especially devastating.<ref name="earlypop"/> This trend for periodic reverses in population growth was maintained until the nineteenth century. Since then, Bilbao has experienced an exponential growth in population thanks to industrialisation. After a peak of 433,115 inhabitants in 1982, the municipalities of the [[Txorierri]] valley were removed from Bilbao, with the corresponding loss of their population.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbao.net/castella/relaciones_ciudadanas/publicaciones/bilbao_en_cifras/2007/demografia.pdf | title = Evolución de la Población de Bilbao 1900 – 2007 | publisher = Bilbao City Council | year = 2007 | access-date = 17 September 2008 | archive-date = 1 October 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091001170943/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/relaciones_ciudadanas/publicaciones/bilbao_en_cifras/2007/demografia.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref>

Spanish is the most spoken language in the city, followed by the [[Basque language]]. According to the city government of Bilbao, at least 51% of the population can speak "some Basque",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bilbao.net/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=3000054794&language=es&pageid=3000054794&pagename=Bilbaonet%2FPage%2FBIO_contenidoFinal |title=La situación del euskera en Bilbao |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Bilbao City Hall |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184803/http://bilbao.net/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=3000054794&language=es&pageid=3000054794&pagename=Bilbaonet%2FPage%2FBIO_contenidoFinal |url-status=live }}</ref> while 29% consider themselves to be fluent.<ref name="eustat">{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |year=2017 |title=Datos Estadísticos de Bilbao |url=http://www.eustat.eus/municipal/datos_estadisticos/bilbao_c.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826183010/http://www.eustat.eus/municipal/datos_estadisticos/bilbao_c.html |archive-date=26 August 2018 |access-date=18 August 2018 |website=Web Eustat |publisher=[[Basque Statistics Office]]}}</ref>

=== Migration ===
{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+Foreign population by country of birth (2024)<ref name="population" />
!Nationality
!Population
|-
|{{Flag|Colombia}}
|9,743
|-
|{{Flag|Morocco}}
|5,196
|-
|{{Flag|Bolivia}}
|4,309
|-
|{{Flag|Venezuela}}
|4,244
|-
|{{Flag|Nicaragua}}
|3,645
|-
|{{Flag|Paraguay}}
|2,657
|-
|{{Flag|Ecuador}}
|1,939
|-
|{{Flag|Romania}}
|1,797
|-
|{{Flag|China}}
|1,791
|-
|{{Flag|Peru}}
|1,679
|-
|{{Flag|Brazil}}
|1,321
|-
|{{Flag|Argentina}}
|1,316
|-
|{{Flag|Algeria}}
|1,235
|-
|{{Flag|Honduras}}
|1,020
|-
|{{Flag|Senegal}}
|946
|}
Out of the 355,731 people residing in Bilbao in 2009, only 114,220 (32.1%) were born inside the municipality. Of the remainder, 114,908 were born in other Biscayan towns, while 9,545 were born in the other two Basque provinces, and 85,789 came from the rest of Spain (mainly [[Castile-León]] and [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]]).

As of 2024, the foreign-born population of the city is 56,629, equal to 16.3% of the total population.<ref name="population" /> As of 2007, here are 127 different nationalities registered in Bilbao, although 60 of them represent fewer than 10 people each.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbao.net/castella/accion_social/publicaciones/inmigracion_iii/documento_completo.pdf | title = Inmigración extranjera en Bilbao | date = 1 January 2007 | publisher = Bilbao City Council | access-date = 31 October 2010 | archive-date = 25 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725125339/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/accion_social/publicaciones/inmigracion_iii/documento_completo.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> As of 2024, the largest foreign communities are Colombians and Moroccans, with 9,743 and 5,196 respectively. Other nationalities with more than 1,000 inhabitants are Bolivians (4,309), Venezuelans (4,244), Nicaraguans (3,645), Paraguayans (2,657), Ecuadorians (1,939) and Romanians (1,797).<ref name="population" />

== Government ==
[[File:Bilbao_-_Diputacion_Foral_de_Vizcaya_2.jpg|thumb|right|Building of the provincial government of Biscay]]
The city of Bilbao is the capital of the [[Provinces of Spain|province]] of [[Biscay]] and as such it is home of the administrative entities that pertain to the provincial administration, both from the [[Autonomous Communities of Spain|autonomous]] and central governments. Settled in the city are the provincial delegations of the different departments of the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque autonomous government]], each coordinated by a representative. In addition, the [[Government of Spain]] has the official [[Government Sub-delegation (Spain)|Government Subdelegation]] in the city.

=== Municipal government ===
{{main|Bilbao City Council}}
[[File:Bilbao_-_Ayuntamiento_24.jpg|thumb|right|The Bilbao City Hall]]
Bilbao is a [[Municipalities of Spain|municipality]] and has a [[Mayor–council government|mayor-council government system]]. The municipal government is elected for four-year terms by [[universal suffrage]] and it is divided into two branches, executive and legislative.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbao.net/nuevobilbao/jsp/bilbao/pwepl004.jsp?idioma=i&color=rojo&subtema=10&puntomenu=plc&tema=ep1&padre=EPM | title = Nature, Attributions and Organisation | publisher = Ayuntamiento de Bilbao | access-date = 10 October 2010}}{{dead link|date=April 2011}}</ref> The legislative side consists of a municipal plenum composed of 29 [[councillor]]s. These councillors represent the different political parties elected in the local elections, for which can vote all residents registered in the city who are citizens of Spain or of any member state of the [[European Union]]. The executive branch is composed of the mayor and a board of governors. The number of members of the board cannot be more than a third the number of members of the legislative plenum and the mayor can appoint them at his or her own discretion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bilbao.net/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=3000016190&language=es&pageid=3000016190&pagename=Bilbaonet%2FPage%2FBIO_contenidoFinal |title=La Junta del Gobierno de la Villa de Bilbao: Naturaleza, Atribuciones y Organización |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Bilbao City Hall |publisher=Bilbao Municipal Government |access-date=15 October 2008 |archive-date=15 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515184344/http://www.bilbao.net/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=3000016190&language=es&pageid=3000016190&pagename=Bilbaonet%2FPage%2FBIO_contenidoFinal |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since 1892 the seat of the government has been the [[Bilbao City Hall]], located on the centric [[Ernesto Erkoreka Plaza]] and by the [[Estuary of Bilbao]]. It is the fourth city hall building to have been used since the year 1300. The first three city halls were located by the [[Church of Saint Anthony the Great|San Antón Church]] but were destroyed due to floodings. The current building was designed by the Spanish architect Joaquín Rucoba in [[Baroque architecture|Baroque style]] and was built in the former site of the San Agustín Monastery, which was destroyed during the [[First Carlist War]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bilbao.net/cs/Satellite?c=BIO_Generico_FA&cid=3000787796&language=en&pageid=3000018206&pagename=Bilbaonet%2FBIO_Generico_FA%2FBIO_Generico |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150227182748/https://www.bilbao.net/cs/Satellite?c=BIO_Generico_FA&cid=3000787796&language=en&pageid=3000018206&pagename=Bilbaonet/BIO_Generico_FA/BIO_Generico |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 February 2015 |title=Las ruinas de San Agustín |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Bilbao City Hall |publisher=Bilbao Municipal Government |access-date=27 November 2008 }}</ref> Since the [[Spanish transition to democracy]], the city has been governed by the [[Basque Nationalist Party]], often with support of the [[Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left|Socialist Party of the Basque Country]]. [[Iñaki Azkuna]] served as mayor from 1999 until his passing in 2014, when he was replaced by [[Ibon Areso]]. Azkuna was awarded the World Mayor prize in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldmayor.com/contest_2012/world-mayor-12-results.html |title=Iñaki Azkuna, Mayor of Bilbao, Spain awarded the 2012 World Mayor Prize |last=Vom Hove |first=Tann |date=8 January 2013 |website=World Mayor |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-date=11 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111083758/http://www.worldmayor.com/contest_2012/world-mayor-12-results.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Since the 2019 municipal election, the councillors of the plenum have the following political distribution: 14 seats for the Basque Nationalist Party, 5 seats for the Socialist Party of the Basque Country, 4 seats for the [[EH Bildu]] coalition, 3 seats for Udalberri and 3 seats for the [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]]. The mayor is [[Juan Mari Aburto]], chosen with 19 votes from the Basque Nationalist Party and the Socialist party.

In 2008 and 2010, Bilbao won the Municipal Transparency Prize, awarded by the Spanish division of [[Transparency International]]. In 2009 it came second, after [[Sant Cugat del Vallés]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbao.net/nuevobilbao/jsp/bilbao/ciudadCont.jsp?idioma=i&color=rojo&padre=%7CHA&tema=RP0&subtema=10&padresub=RP1 | title = Reconocimientos y premios 2000–2010 | publisher = Ayuntamiento de Bilbao | access-date = 10 October 2010}}{{dead link|date=April 2011}}</ref>

=== Districts ===

The municipality is divided into eight districts (Basque: ''barrutia'') which are further subdivided into 34 neighbourhoods (Basque: ''auzoa''). Most of the districts and neighbourhoods were former independent municipalities and [[elizate]]s that were eventually annexed into the city. Originally, the city of Bilbao comprised the Old Town and some houses on the left side of the estuary, today known as [[Bilbao la Vieja]]. The first expansion included the annexation of the elizate of [[Begoña]] and the river side of [[Uribarri]]. In the 19th century the merge of [[Abando]] into the city brought along small neighbourhoods of farm houses and hamlets that were clustered close to the former municipality's town hall and the [[Mount Cobetas]], such as [[Errekalde]] and [[Basurto-Zorroza|Basurto]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1= González|first1=Santiago |title=Una expansión organizada |url= http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_4.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080724095306/http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_4.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 24 July 2008|journal=Bilbao 700 |page=120 |access-date=16 October 2008}}</ref> Starting in the 20th century it started annexing the elizates on the right bank of the river, including Begoña and [[Deusto]]. In the decade of 1960 as an effort to stop the increasing problem of [[slum]]s, new neighbourhoods were created from the ground up, among them Otxarkoaga and Txurdinaga, which were joined together as a new district, [[Otxarkoaga-Txurdinaga]] in the decade of 1990.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bilbao.net/castella/accion_social/publicaciones/estudio_otxarkoaga.pdf |title=Estudio sobre el barrio de Otxarkoaga |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Bilbao City Hall |publisher=Municipal Government of Bilbao |access-date=16 October 2008 |archive-date=24 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124082742/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/accion_social/publicaciones/estudio_otxarkoaga.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!  style="width:40px; text-align:center;"| #
!  style="width:100px; text-align:center;"| District
!  style="width:400px; text-align:center;"| Neighbourhoods
! style="width:50px; text-align:center;" | Population<br />(2009)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbao.net/castella/relaciones_ciudadanas/publicaciones/bilbao_en_cifras/2009/territorio_climatologia.pdf | title = Territorio y climatología | publisher = Ayuntamiento de Bilbao | access-date = 10 October 2010 | archive-date = 25 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725125528/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/relaciones_ciudadanas/publicaciones/bilbao_en_cifras/2009/territorio_climatologia.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref>
! style="width:50px; text-align:center;" | Area<br />(km<sup>2</sup>)
!Density
! style="width:300px; text-align:center;" | <small>Location</small>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Deusto]]
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Arangoiti]]'', ''[[Ibarrekolanda]]'', ''[[San Ignacio-Elorrieta]]'', and ''[[San Pedro de Deusto-La Rivera]]''.
| style="text-align:center;" | 51,656
| style="text-align:center;" | 4.95
|10,436
| rowspan="8" style="text-align:center;" | {{Image label begin|image=Bilbao blank districts.svg|width=250|float=none}}
{{Image label small|x=0.22|y=0.20|scale=250|text='''[[Deusto]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.54|y=0.25|scale=250|text='''[[Uribarri]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.73|y=0.33|scale=250|text='''[[Otxarkoaga-Txurdinaga|Otxarkoaga-<br/>Txurdinaga]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.65|y=0.51|scale=250|text='''[[Begoña]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.51|y=0.73|scale=250|text='''[[Ibaiondo]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.40|y=0.35|scale=250|text='''[[Abando]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.22|y=0.65|scale=250|text='''[[Errekalde]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.16|y=0.41|scale=250|text='''[[Basurto-Zorroza|Basurto-<br/>Zorroza]]'''}}
{{Image label end}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Uribarri]]
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Castaños (Bilbao)|Castaños]]'', ''[[Matiko-Ciudad Jardín]]'', ''[[Uribarri (neighbourhood)|Uribarri]]'', and ''[[Zurbaran-Arabella]]''.
| style="text-align:center;" | 38,335
| style="text-align:center;" | 4.19
|9,149
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Otxarkoaga-Txurdinaga]]
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Otxarkoaga]]'' and ''[[Txurdinaga]]''.
| style="text-align:center;" | 28,518
| style="text-align:center;" | 3.90
|7,312
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Begoña]]
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Begoña]]'', ''[[Bolueta]]'', and ''[[Santutxu]]''.
| style="text-align:center;" | 43,030
| style="text-align:center;" | 1.77
|24,311
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 5
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Ibaiondo]]
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Atxuri]]'', ''[[Bilbo Zarra|Bilbao La Vieja]]'', ''[[Casco Viejo]]'', ''[[Iturralde (Bilbao)|Iturralde]]'', ''[[La Peña, Bilbao|La Peña]]'', ''[[Miribilla]]'', ''[[San Adrián (Bilbao)|San Adrián]]'', ''[[San Francisco (Bilbao)|San Francisco]]'', ''[[Solokoetxe]]'', and ''[[Zabala (Bilbao)|Zabala]]''.
| style="text-align:center;" | 61,029
| style="text-align:center;" | 9.65
|6,324
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 6
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Abando]]
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Abando]]'' and ''[[Indautxu]]''.
| style="text-align:center;" | 51,718
| style="text-align:center;" | 2.14
|24,167
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Errekalde]]
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Amezola]]'', ''[[Iralabarri]]'', ''[[Iturrigorri-Peñascal]]'', ''[[Errekaldeberri-Larraskitu]]'', and ''[[Uretamendi]]''.
| style="text-align:center;" | 47,787
| style="text-align:center;" | 6.96
|6,866
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 8
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Basurto-Zorroza]]
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Altamira(Bilbao)|Altamira]]'', ''[[Basurto]]'', ''[[Olabeaga]]'', ''[[Masustegi-Monte Caramelo]]'', and ''[[Zorrotza]]''.
| style="text-align:center;" | 33,658
| style="text-align:center;" | 7.09
|4,747
|}

== Economy ==
[[File:Torre Iberdrola 1 - Bilbao, Spain (2).jpg|thumb|right|upright|Headquarters of [[Iberdrola]]]]
The Bilbao metropolitan area comprises about 47% of the total population of the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque autonomous community]], out of which a 15% is registered in the municipality of Bilbao. The ''[[Comarcas of the Basque Country|comarca]]'' of [[Greater Bilbao]], in which the city occupies a central position, has a [[GDP per capita]] of €30,860,<ref name="gdp eustat">{{cite web |url=http://www.eustat.eus/elementos/ele0011100/Producto_interior_bruto_PIB_per_capita_de_la_CA_de_Euskadi_por_ambitos_territoriales_Precios_corrientes_euros/tbl0011123_c.html |title=Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of the Basque Autonomous Community by territorial entities. |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=24 May 2018 |website=Eustat |publisher=EUSTAT Basque Institute of Statistics |access-date=7 September 2018 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909000449/http://www.eustat.eus/elementos/ele0011100/Producto_interior_bruto_PIB_per_capita_de_la_CA_de_Euskadi_por_ambitos_territoriales_Precios_corrientes_euros/tbl0011123_c.html |url-status=live }}</ref> higher than the Spanish and European Union averages. The [[Bilbao metropolitan area]] has a [[List of cities by GDP|nominal GDP amounting to $36,9&nbsp;billion]]. Bilbao has been the economic centre of the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque autonomous community]] since the original establishment of the [[Consulate of the Sea]] in the city in the 16th century, mostly thanks to the commerce in [[Castile (historical region)|Castilian]] products on the town's [[Port of Bilbao|port]]. It was in the 19th century when the city experienced its biggest economic development, mainly based on the exploitation of the nearby iron mines and [[siderurgy]], both of which promoted maritime traffic and port activity and eventually the development of a very important shipbuilding industry.<ref name="Economy of Bilbao">http://www.bilbao.net/nuevobilbao/jsp/bilbao/pwegb010.jsp?idioma=C&color=rojo&padre=|HT&tema=FBS&subtema=10&padresub=*M4&textarea=*M4{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== Banking ===
[[File:Edificio BBVA (antiguo Banco de Comercio), Bilbao, 2017-07-23, Triplecaña retouched.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Headquarters of BBVA]]
Banking became an important sector with the establishment of the Bank of Bilbao (Spanish: ''Banco de Bilbao'') in 1857 and the Bank of Biscay (Spanish: ''Banco de Vizcaya'') in 1901. These two entities merged in 1988 creating the BBV, which finally merged with Argentaria bank in 1999, creating the current multinational corporation, the [[Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria|BBVA]]. The [[savings bank]]s that were established locally, the Municipal Savings Bank of Bilbao (Spanish: ''Caja de Ahorros Municipal de Bilbao'') in 1907 and the Provincial Savings Bank of Biscay (Spanish: ''Caja de Ahorros Provincial de Vizcaya'') in 1921, would merge in 1990 to form the [[Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa]] (BBK),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.bbk.es/internet/banners/centenario/libro/index.html |title=bbk 100 años |publisher=Portal.bbk.es |access-date=10 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720140314/https://portal.bbk.es/internet/banners/centenario/libro/index.html |archive-date=20 July 2011  }}</ref> which would merge again in 2012 with other Basque financial entities ([[Kutxa]] and Caja Vital Kutxa) to form [[Kutxabank]]. There is also the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Bilbao and the Stock Exchange Market of Bilbao, founded in 1890.<ref name="periodistasvascos.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_6.pdf |title=Bilbao 700 – Capítulo VI |access-date=10 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715064419/http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_6.pdf |archive-date=15 July 2011  }}</ref>

=== Port ===
{{main|Port of Bilbao}}
[[File:Serantes Panoramica.jpg|thumb|Panoramic view of the outer port, as seen from Mount Serantes]]
The historical port was located in what is today an area called the Arenal, a few steps from the old city, until the late 19th century. In 1902, an exterior port was built at [[Bilbao Abra|the mouth]] of the estuary, in the coastal municipality of [[Santurtzi]]. Further extensions to the outer port, which became called "the super-port", led to the final move of the city portuary facilities in the 1970s, finally replacing the docks in the centre of the city,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_6.pdf |title=El Puerto: Desde San Antón al Abra |author1=Corres Abásolo |author2=José Ángel |access-date=16 October 2008 |work=Bilbao 700 |page=212 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724095122/http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_6.pdf |archive-date=24 July 2008  }}</ref> with the exception of those located in the neighbourhood of Zorrotza, still active.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deia.com/es/impresa/2006/02/08/bizkaia/herrialdeak/216736.php |title=El Puerto abandonó ayer el Canal de Deusto tras 38 años de actividad comercial |work=Deia |access-date=31 October 2007 |date=8 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124075722/http://www.deia.com/es/impresa/2006/02/08/bizkaia/herrialdeak/216736.php |archive-date=24 January 2009 }}</ref>

The port of Bilbao is a first-class commercial port and is among the top five of Spain.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbaoport.es/aPBW/web/es/faqs.jsp | title = Preguntas frecuentes | publisher = Puerto de Bilbao | access-date = 16 October 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081020005855/http://www.bilbaoport.es/aPBW/web/es/faqs.jsp | archive-date = 20 October 2008 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Over 200 regular maritime services link Bilbao with 500 ports worldwide. At the close of 2009 cargo movements amounted to 31.6&nbsp;million tonnes, Russia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the Nordic countries being the main markets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bilbaoport.es/aPBW/web/en/port/statistics/index.jsp |title=Port of Bilbao throughput stood at 31.6&nbsp;million tonnes in 2009 |publisher=Puerto de Bilbao |access-date=10 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508232903/http://www.bilbaoport.es/aPBW/web/en/port/statistics/index.jsp |archive-date=8 May 2010  }}</ref> In the first semester of 2008, it received over 67,000 passengers and 2,770 ships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bilbaoport.es/aPBWeb/es/puerto/estadisticas/acumulado.asp |title=Estadísticas generales |publisher=Puerto de Bilbao |access-date=16 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123151844/http://www.bilbaoport.es/aPBWeb/es/puerto/estadisticas/acumulado.asp |archive-date=23 January 2009  }}</ref> This activity contributed €419 million to the Basque GDP and maintains almost 10,000 jobs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bilbaoport.es/aPBW/web/en/port/economical/index.jsp |title=Economical impact |publisher=Puerto de Bilbao |access-date=16 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616084910/http://www.bilbaoport.es/aPBW/web/en/port/economical/index.jsp |archive-date=16 June 2009  }}</ref>

=== Mining and ironworks ===
Iron is the main and most abundant [[raw material]] found in [[Biscay]], and its extraction has been legally regulated since 1526. Mining was the main [[primary sector of the economy|primary activity]] in Bilbao and the minerals, of great quality, were exported to all over Europe.<ref name="siderurgy">{{cite web|url=http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_6.pdf |title=Bessemer cambió la historia |author1=Diez Alday |author2=José Antonio |work=Bilbao 700 |access-date=16 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724095122/http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_6.pdf |archive-date=24 July 2008  }}</ref> It was not until the second half of the nineteenth century that an ironworks industry was developed, benefiting from the resources and the city's good communication links. In the 20th century, both Spanish and European capitals imported around 90% of the iron from Biscay.<ref name="siderurgy"/> Although World War I made Bilbao one of the main ironworks powers, a subsequent crisis prompted a decline in the activity.

=== Tourism ===
[[File:Bilbao - Ria.jpg|thumb|Guggenheim Museum Bilbao]]
The first notion of Bilbao as a tourist destination came with the inauguration of the railway between Bilbao and the coastal neighbourhood of [[Las Arenas]], in the municipality of [[Getxo]] in 1872. The connection made Bilbao a minor beach destination.<ref>Montero, Manuel (2005). p. 97.</ref>

The real tourist surge though would come much later with the inauguration of the [[Guggenheim Museum Bilbao]] in 1997. Thereafter tourist arrivals registered a continued upward trend, reaching over 932,000 visitors in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eldiario.es/norte/euskadi/Bilbao-recibe-turistas-visitantes-consecutivo_0_860564469.html|title=Bilbao recibe 932.771 turistas en 2018 y bate el récord de visitantes por quinto año consecutivo|agency=Europa Press|website=eldiario.es|date=24 January 2019|language=es|access-date=2019-05-24|archive-date=24 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524091928/https://www.eldiario.es/norte/euskadi/Bilbao-recibe-turistas-visitantes-consecutivo_0_860564469.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The trend was exponential considering that in 1995, Bilbao only counted 25,000 tourists.<ref name="tourism">{{cite web | url = http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20101001/vizcaya/bilbao-solo-ciudad-paso-20101001.html | title = Bilbao ya no es sólo una ciudad de paso | access-date = 18 October 2010 | date = 1 October 2010 | editor = El Correo| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101007122040/http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20101001/vizcaya/bilbao-solo-ciudad-paso-20101001.html| archive-date= 7 October 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> Bilbao also hosts 31% of the total [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] visitors, being the top destination of this autonomous community, outranking [[San Sebastián]].<ref name="tourism"/> The majority of tourists are domestic visitors, coming from [[Madrid]] and [[Catalonia]]. International travellers are predominantly French, crossing the border just to the east. The others arrive from the [[United Kingdom]], [[Germany]], and [[Italy]].<ref name="tourism"/> Tourism generates about €300 million yearly for the Biscayan GDP.<ref name="tourism"/> Bilbao also draws [[business tourism]], having been equipped with facilities like the [[Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall]], and the [[Bilbao Exhibition Centre]], in nearby [[Barakaldo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_7.pdf |title=En posición privilegiada |author=Etxebarria, Elvira |work=Bilbao 700 |page=236 |access-date=16 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724095050/http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_7.pdf |archive-date=24 July 2008  }}</ref>

=== Stock exchange ===
Plans to create a [[stock exchange]] market in Bilbao began in the early 19th century, even though it would not be realized until 21 July 1890.<ref name="periodistasvascos.com"/> Bilbao's institution is one of the country's four regional stock exchanges, joining [[Barcelona]], [[Madrid]], and [[Valencia]] as Spain's commercial centres. It is owned by [[Bolsas y Mercados Españoles]].

== Cityscape ==
{{clear}}
{{wide image|Bilbao cityview from Monte Artxanda (España 2019) (33853014808).jpg|800px|A panoramic view of Bilbao taken from [[Mount Artxanda]]}}
{{clear}}

=== Urban planning ===
[[File:Casco viejo.jpg|thumb|The Old Town]]
[[File:Bilbao-07.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|The Gothic St. James Cathedral]]
In its beginnings, Bilbao only had three streets (''Somera'', ''Artecalle'', and ''Tendería'') surrounded by walls located where Ronda street now stands. Inside this enclosure, there was a small [[hermitage (religious retreat)|hermitage]] dedicated to the Apostle [[James, son of Zebedee|Saint James]] (the current [[Bilbao Cathedral|St. James' Cathedral]]), which pilgrims visited on their [[Way of St. James|way to]] [[Santiago de Compostela]]. In the fifteenth century, four more streets were built, forming the original ''[[Zazpikaleak]]'' or "Seven Streets".<ref>[[#tus04|Tusell 2004]]: 19</ref> In 1571, after several floods and a major fire in 1569, the walls were demolished in order to allow the expansion of the town.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.euskomedia.org/PDFAnlt/atlas_vasconia/biz/es/00530106es.pdf | publisher = euskomedia.org | title = El espacio público de la villa de Bilbao | author1 = Arizaga Balumburu, Beatriz | author2 = Martínez Martínez, Sergio | name-list-style = amp | access-date = 17 September 2008 | archive-date = 25 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725134335/http://www.euskomedia.org/PDFAnlt/atlas_vasconia/biz/es/00530106es.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref>

In 1861, engineer Amado Lázaro projected an ''[[ensanche]]'' inside the then-municipality of [[Abando]] with wide avenues and regular buildings, that took into account the hygienic ideas of the time. The project was mostly based on [[Barcelona]]'s ''[[Eixample]]'', designed by [[Ildefons Cerdà]].<ref name="urban">{{cite web | url = http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/1116/122862 | title = Bilbao (Urbanismo, siglos XIX y XX) | publisher = euskomedia.org | access-date = 8 October 2010 | archive-date = 21 October 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121021100706/http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/1116/122862 | url-status = live }}</ref> However, the project was dropped by the [[Bilbao City Council]] after considering it "utopian and excessive" because of its high cost, though of great quality. Furthermore, Lázaro had calculated the demographic growth of the town was based on the previous three centuries, a provision that eventually would not conform to reality.<ref name="urban"/><ref>[[#mon00|Montero 2000]]: 45</ref>

The next large urban change in Bilbao would come in 1876, when the capital [[annexation|annexed]] (in several stages) the neighbouring municipality of Abando. The new ''ensanche'' project was planned by a team made of architect Severino de Achúcarro and engineers Pablo de Alzola (elected Mayor that same year), and Ernesto de Hoffmeyer. Unlike Lázaro's, this project was significantly smaller, compassing {{convert|1.58|km2|abbr=on}} against the original {{convert|2.54|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="urban"/> It also featured a not so strict [[grid pattern]], a park to separate the industrial and residential areas and the [[Gran Vía de Don Diego López de Haro]], the main thoroughfare, where many relevant buildings were located, such as the Biscay provincial government hall or the BBVA Tower. By the end of the 1890s, this widening was half completed and already filled, so a new extension was planned by Federico Ugalde.<ref name="urban"/>

By 1925, the municipalities of [[Deusto]] and [[Begoña]], as well as part of [[Erandio]] were annexed, and in 1940, the remaining part of Erandio became part of Bilbao. The last annexation took place in 1966, with the municipalities of [[Loiu]], [[Sondika]], [[Derio]], and [[Zamudio]]. This made Bilbao larger than ever, with {{convert|107|km2|abbr=on}}. However, all these municipalities, with the exception of Deusto and Begoña regained their independence on 1 January 1983.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euskadi.net/cgi-bin_k54/ver_c?CMD=VERDOC&BASE=B03J&DOCN=000030346&CONF=/config/k54/bopv_c.cnf |title=BOE del País Vasco |publisher=[[Basque Government]] |access-date=17 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002082844/http://www.euskadi.net/cgi-bin_k54/ver_c?CMD=VERDOC&BASE=B03J&DOCN=000030346&CONF=%2Fconfig%2Fk54%2Fbopv_c.cnf |archive-date=2 October 2013  }}</ref>

On 18 May 2010, the government of Singapore awarded Bilbao the [[Lee Kuan Yew]] World City Prize, at the [[World Cities Summit]] 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.leekuanyewworldcityprize.com.sg/inaugural.htm | title = Bilbao City Hall tops 78 nominations to clinch the inaugural Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize | publisher = Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize | access-date = 9 December 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100724160440/http://www.leekuanyewworldcityprize.com.sg/inaugural.htm | archive-date = 24 July 2010 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> It is considered the [[Pritzker Prize|Pritzker]] of [[urbanism]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20100519/vizcaya/medalla-certificado-euros-premio-20100519.html | title = Medalla de oro, certificado y 176.000 euros de premio | work = El Correo | date = 19 May 2010 | access-date = 9 December 2010 | archive-date = 23 May 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100523202554/http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20100519/vizcaya/medalla-certificado-euros-premio-20100519.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

=== Architecture ===
{{main category|Buildings and structures in Bilbao}}
[[File:Bilbao_-_Calle_Ercilla_esquina_calle_Col%C3%B3n_de_Larre%C3%A1tegui_1.jpg|thumb|Typical late-19th-century architecture of Bilbao]]
[[File:Bilbao - Zubizuri 07.jpg|thumb|left|[[Isozaki Atea]] and the Zubizuri footbridge, symbols of the city's transformation]]
Bilbao's buildings display a variety of architectural styles, ranging from [[Gothic architecture|gothic]], [[Art Deco]], [[Art Nouveau]], [[Neo-Gothic]], and [[contemporary architecture]]. The [[Casco Viejo|Old Town]] features many of the oldest buildings in the city, as the [[Bilbao Cathedral|St. James' Cathedral]] or the [[Church of Saint Anthony the Great|Church of San Antón]], included in the borough's coat of arms. Most of the Old Town is a [[pedestrian zone]] during the day. Nearby is one of the most important religious temples of Biscay, the [[Basilica of Begoña]], dedicated to the patron saint of the province, [[Our Lady of Begoña]].

Seventeen bridges span the banks of the estuary inside the town's boundaries. Among the most interesting ones are the [[Zubizuri]] (Basque for "white bridge"), a pedestrian [[footbridge]] designed by [[Santiago Calatrava]] opened in 1997, and the [[La Salve|Princes of Spain Bridge]], also known as "La Salve", a [[suspension bridge]] opened in 1972 and redesigned by French [[concept art|conceptual artist]] [[Daniel Buren]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/secciones/programacion_artistica/nombre_exposicion_version_imprimible.php?idioma=en&id_exposicion=70 |title=Red Arches |publisher=Guggenheim Bilbao |date=20 October 2006 |access-date=10 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718025729/http://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/secciones/programacion_artistica/nombre_exposicion_version_imprimible.php?idioma=en&id_exposicion=70 |archive-date=18 July 2011  }}</ref> The [[Deusto Bridge]] is a [[bascule bridge]] opened in 1936 and modelled after the [[Michigan Avenue Bridge]], in Chicago.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www2.deia.com/es/impresa/2008/04/23/bizkaia/herrialdeak/461574.php | title = El puente de Deusto afronta su primera reforma integral tras 70 años de servicio | newspaper = Deia | date = 23 April 2008 | access-date = 10 November 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110709011034/http://www2.deia.com/es/impresa/2008/04/23/bizkaia/herrialdeak/461574.php | archive-date = 9 July 2011 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Between 1890 and 1893 the first [[transporter bridge]] (''"[[Bizkaia Bridge|Puente Colgante]]"'') in the world on the [[Nervion]] river, between [[Portugalete]] and [[Getxo]], was built by [[Alberto Palacio]] (architect and engineer) together with his brother Silvestre.

Since the deindustrialisation process started in the 1990s, many of the former industrial areas are being transformed into modern public and private spaces designed by several of the world's most renowned architects and artists. The main example is the [[Guggenheim Museum Bilbao|Guggenheim Museum]], located in what was an old dock and wood warehouse. The building, designed by [[Frank Gehry]] and inaugurated in October 1997, is considered among architecture experts as one of the most important structures of the last 30 years,<ref>{{cite news | last = Tyrnauer | first = Matt | title = Architecture in the Age of Gehry | url = http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/08/architecture-survey-201008?currentPage=all | access-date = 10 November 2010 | newspaper = [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] | date = 30 June 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101128123314/http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/08/architecture-survey-201008?currentPage=all| archive-date= 28 November 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> and a masterpiece by itself.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lynnparr.co.uk/articles/Guggenheim.pdf |title=Perfect Space |last=Parr |first=Linda |newspaper=Artists & Illustrators |year=2007 |access-date=10 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302193838/http://www.lynnparr.co.uk/articles/Guggenheim.pdf |archive-date=2 March 2012  }}</ref> The museum houses part of the [[Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation]] modern art collection. Another example is the [[Azkuna Zentroa]], a wine warehouse built in 1909 and completely redesigned in 2010 by French designer [[Philippe Starck]] into a multi-purpose venue that consists of a cinema multiplex, a fitness centre, a library, and a restaurant, among other spaces.<ref name="description">{{cite web | url = http://www.alhondigabilbao.com/la-alhondiga-centro-de-ocio-y-cultura | title = The Alhóndiga, Culture | publisher = Alhóndiga Bilbao | access-date = 20 October 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://info.elcorreo.com/bilbao/inauguracion-alhondiga/que-es/la-alhondiga-vuelve-a-la-vida/ | title = La nueva Alhóndiga | work=[[El Correo]] | access-date = 20 October 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100923193620/http://info.elcorreo.com/bilbao/inauguracion-alhondiga/que-es/la-alhondiga-vuelve-a-la-vida/| archive-date= 23 September 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> The [[Abando]]ibarra area is also being renovated, and it features not only the Guggenheim Museum, but also [[Arata Isozaki]]'s [[Isozaki Atea|tower complex]], the [[Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall]] and the [[Iberdrola Tower]], designed by [[Argentine]] architect [[César Pelli]] which is, since its completion in 2011, the Basque Country's tallest skyscraper, {{convert|165|m}} high.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.torreiberdrola.es/edificio/proyecto/presentacion.php?idioma=en& |title=Presentation |publisher=Torre Iberdrola |access-date=10 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404092018/http://www.torreiberdrola.es/edificio/proyecto/presentacion.php?idioma=en& |archive-date=4 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Zorrozaurre]] is the next area to be redeveloped, following a 2007 master plan designed by [[Iraqi people|Iraqi]] architect [[Zaha Hadid]]. This peninsula was transformed into a {{convert|500000|m2|abbr=on}} island and will feature residential and commercial buildings, as well as the new [[Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa|BBK]] seat.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20100204/vizcaya/seguira-quedando-claro-estilo-20100204.html | title = Seguirá quedando claro el estilo de Zaha Hadid | work = [[El Correo]] | access-date = 10 November 2010 | archive-date = 16 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716085224/http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20100204/vizcaya/seguira-quedando-claro-estilo-20100204.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
{{clear}}

=== Parks and gardens ===
[[File:Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park, Bilbao, July 2010 (05).JPG|thumb|right|Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park]]
{{As of|2010}}, Bilbao has 18 [[public parks]] inside its limits, totalling {{convert|200|ha|abbr=on}} of green spaces. Furthermore its [[green belt]] has a total area of {{convert|1025|ha|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|119|ha|abbr=on}} are urbanized.<ref name="parks">{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbao.net/anilloverde/gran_recorrido/gran_recorrido.pdf | title = Ibilbide Luzea – Gran Recorrido | publisher = Bilbao City Council | access-date = 11 November 2010 | archive-date = 5 July 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100705024338/http://www.bilbao.net/anilloverde/gran_recorrido/gran_recorrido.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> The largest parks are [[Mount Cobetas]], of {{convert|18.5|ha|abbr=on}}, and Larreagaburu, of {{convert|12|ha|abbr=on}}, both located on the outskirts.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.bilbao.net/nuevobilbao/jsp/bilbao/pwegb010.jsp?idioma=i&color=rojo&textarea=3EE&subtema=10&padresub=3EE&tema=5EE&padre=*EE | title = Parques urbanos | publisher = Bilbao City Council | access-date = 11 November 2010}}{{dead link|date=April 2011}}</ref>

The [[Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park]] is located in the district of [[Abando]], near the town centre and covers an area of {{convert|8.5|ha|abbr=on}}. It is named after a local benefactress who donated the grounds to the borough. It is an [[English landscape garden|English-style garden]] designed by [[Ricardo Bastida]] and opened to the public in 1907. It features a dancing water fountain surrounded by a [[pergola]], and a pond with many species of ducks, geese and swans, which gives the park the alternate name of "Ducks' Park", as known locally. In recent years, it was expanded to be connected with the Abandoibarra area.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www2.bilbao.net/bilbaoturismo/ingles/qhacer/ddpjard.htm | title = Doña Casilda Park | publisher = Bilbao City Council | access-date = 12 November 2010 | archive-date = 12 August 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100812074712/http://www2.bilbao.net/bilbaoturismo/ingles/qhacer/ddpjard.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> In [[Ibaiondo]], the [[Etxeberria Park]] was built in the 1980s in the place where a steel mill previously stood. The original chimney was maintained as a homage of its industrial past. It covers an area of {{convert|18.9|ha|abbr=on}}, on a sloped terrain that overlooks the Old Town.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www2.bilbao.net/bilbaoturismo/ingles/qhacer/ddpjard2.htm | title = Etxebarria Park | publisher = Bilbao City Council | access-date = 12 November 2010 | archive-date = 19 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110719010110/http://www2.bilbao.net/bilbaoturismo/ingles/qhacer/ddpjard2.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> Other relevant public spaces inside the city include the [[Europa Park (Bilbao)|Europa Park]], the [[Miribilla Park]], or the [[Memorial Walkway]], a {{convert|3|km|abbr=on}} long walkway, with {{convert|12|m|abbr=on}} high lamps, located in the left bank of the estuary and that connects the main sights.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www2.bilbao.net/bilbaoturismo/ingles/qhacer/ddpjard3.htm | title = Memorial Walkway | publisher = Bilbao City Council | access-date = 12 November 2010 | archive-date = 19 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110719010136/http://www2.bilbao.net/bilbaoturismo/ingles/qhacer/ddpjard3.htm | url-status = live }}</ref>

[[Mount Artxanda]] is easily accessible from the town centre by a [[Artxanda Funicular|funicular]]. There is a recreational area at the summit, with restaurants, a sports complex and a balcony with panoramic views. In the south, [[Pagasarri|Mount Pagasarri]] receives hundreds of [[hiking|hikers]] every weekend since the 1870s, who seek its natural wonders. Its environment is officially protected since 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbao.net/castella/obras/publicaciones/pagasarri/libro_completo.pdf | title = Pagasarri: Our closest mountain | publisher = Bilbao City Council | year = 2007 | access-date = 12 November 2010 | archive-date = 25 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725130404/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/obras/publicaciones/pagasarri/libro_completo.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref>

== Culture ==
Bilbao was appointed a "[[Design Cities (UNESCO)|City of Design]]" by [[UNESCO]] in 2014 and has been part of the [[Creative Cities Network]] since then.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/bilbao|title=Bilbao {{!}} Creative Cities Network|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=3 October 2018|archive-date=3 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003221114/https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/bilbao|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Theatres ===
[[File:Teatro Arriaga. Bilbao.jpg|thumb|right|The Arriaga Theatre, located by the river in the Old Town]]
The main hall of the city is the [[Teatro Arriaga|Arriaga Theatre]], reopened in 1985 as a municipal venue with a varied repertoire that includes dancing, opera, live music and theatre. Also very active are the Campos Elíseos Theatre and the [[Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall|Euskalduna Concert Hall]]. Other important venues include La Fundición, dedicated to contemporary dances and theatre; the Pabellón 6, the Sala BBK and the [[Azkuna Zentroa]].

=== Museums ===
[[File:Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao (26311230864).jpg|thumb|right|The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao]]
Bilbao has more than a dozen museums covering a range of fields including art, science, and sport, which have played a central role in Bilbao being named one of the most creative cities in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bilbao, one of the 9 most creative cities of 2016|date=24 May 2016|url=https://aboutbasquecountry.eus/en/2016/05/24/howitravel-bilbao-one-of-the-9-most-creative-cities-of-2016/|access-date=6 November 2016|archive-date=1 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901023736/http://aboutbasquecountry.eus/en/2016/05/24/howitravel-bilbao-one-of-the-9-most-creative-cities-of-2016/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Guggenheim Museum Bilbao]], part of the [[Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation]], was inaugurated on 19 October 1997 and is work of the Canadian architect [[Frank Gehry]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Guggenheim Museum Bilbao|url=http://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/en/|access-date=30 July 2016|archive-date=29 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729193312/https://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/en/|url-status=live}}</ref> The museum's permanent collection is centred in the visual arts of the second half of the 20th century and the present, with relevant artworks from [[Richard Serra]] and [[Jeff Koons]], although including as well temporary exhibitions with a more varied nature, like Russian art or engravings from [[Albrecht Dürer]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gara.net/paperezkoa/20070626/25753/es/El-Guggenheim-acoge-una-selección-mejores-grabados-Durero |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130413185726/http://www.gara.net/paperezkoa/20070626/25753/es/El-Guggenheim-acoge-una-selecci%C3%B3n-mejores-grabados-Durero |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 April 2013 |title=Guggenheim Museum to hold a selection of the best engravings of Dürer |last=Labeaga |first=Izaskun |date=26 June 2006 |website=Gara |access-date=20 October 2008 }}</ref>

Another important museum is the [[Bilbao Fine Arts Museum]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Bilbao Fine Arts Museum|url=http://www.museobilbao.com/in/|access-date=30 July 2016|archive-date=15 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815094019/https://www.museobilbao.com/in/|url-status=live}}</ref> first established in 1908 and housing a notable collection of Spanish and European work from the 12th century to present times. The collection from before the 20th century is centred mainly around Spanish and Flemish artists such as [[El Greco]], [[Francisco de Zurbarán]], [[Bartolomé Esteban Murillo]], [[Francisco Goya]] and [[Anthony van Dyck]]. The museum also holds one of the best collections of Basque art, with works from the 19th century to present times. It has an eye-catching collection of [[Avant-garde]] art, from the Post-Impressionism of [[Paul Gauguin]] to [[Pop art]] and the expressionism of [[Francis Bacon (artist)|Francis Bacon]].

The Basque Museum showcases Basque archaeology and ethnography, and holds frequent exhibitions in the area of Basque history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Basque Museum|url=http://www.euskal-museoa.org/es/hasiera/|access-date=30 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731183129/http://www.euskal-museoa.org/es/hasiera|archive-date=31 July 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The museum building itself is part of the heritage listing ''[[Conjunto histórico]]''. The city also has several specialised museums, like the Maritime Museum Estuary of Bilbao (''Bilboko Itsasadarra Itsas Museoa''), located next to the [[Estuary of Bilbao]], which holds ships and other collection related to the region's fishing and shipbuilding culture, being particularly relevant the ''Carola'' crane, last remaining element of the [[Euskalduna]] shipyard that existed where the museum now stands.

Other relevant museums are the Biscayan Archeological Museum (''Arkeologi Museoa'') which holds important collections related to the region's prehistory,<ref name="Bilbao museums">{{cite web |url=http://www.bilbaoturismo.net/BilbaoTurismo/es/rutas-museos/ |title=Routes and Museums |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Bilbao City Hall |publisher=Bilbao Municipal Government |access-date=8 September 2018 |archive-date=15 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615125911/http://www.bilbaoturismo.net/BilbaoTurismo/es/rutas-museos |url-status=live }}</ref> and the Diocesan Museum of Religious Art (''Eleiz Museoa''), both located in the [[Casco Viejo]] quarter.

=== Music ===
[[File:Bilbao - Euskalduna 6.JPG|thumb|right|The Euskalduna Concert Hall]]
The [[Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall|Euskalduna Concert Hall]] is home to frequent musical performances and it is home of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra (''[[Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa]]'') and the opera season programmed by the ABAO (Bilbao Association of Friends of the Opera). The Arriaga Theatre is frequently the host of numerous musical events, other notable stages include the Philharmonic Society of Bilbao (chamber music) and Bilborock (pop and rock music). The city hosts many different musical festivities, often funded by the city hall. Due to its scope, it is especially relevant the [[Bilbao BBK Live]] festival, which has been celebrated every year since 2006 and focuses on Basque, Spanish and international pop and rock music.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bilbao.eus/cs/Satellite?c=BIO_Noticia_FA&cid=1279180717991&language=es&pageid=3000075248&pagename=Bilbaonet/BIO_Noticia_FA/BIO_Noticia |title=Bilbao BBK Live, international reference for live, open-air music |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=4 July 2018 |website=Bilbao City Hall |publisher=Bilbao municipal government |access-date=9 September 2018 |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217062416/http://www.bilbao.eus/cs/Satellite?c=BIO_Noticia_FA&cid=1279180717991&language=es&pageid=3000075248&pagename=Bilbaonet%2FBIO_Noticia_FA%2FBIO_Noticia |url-status=live }}</ref> Since the opening of the [[San Mamés Stadium (2013)|new San Mamés Stadium]] in 2013, it has been often used as an open-air concert venue, the first ever concert being one from the American band [[Guns N' Roses]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last=Benito |first=Carlos |date=30 May 2017 |title=Guns N'Roses Concert in Bilbao |url=http://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/culturas/musica/201705/30/este-primer-gran-concierto-20170530171250.html |work=El Correo |access-date=9 September 2018 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909222056/https://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/culturas/musica/201705/30/este-primer-gran-concierto-20170530171250.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Other relevant music festivals include the ''Bilbao Distrito Jazz'' and the ''Bilbao Ars Sacrum'', the latter dedicated to [[religious music]].

Bilbao is the birthplace of famous composer [[Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga]], who lived his formative years in the city before moving to Paris at age 15. Also native from Bilbao were the [[soprano]] singer Josefa Cruz de Gassier and Natividad Álvarez, nicknamed ''Nati, la bilbainita'' (Spanish for "Nati, the little one from Bilbao") a dancer and [[castanets]] player who achieved national fame in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite news |last=Álvarez |first=Itsaso |date=16 February 2016 |title=The bilbainita who triumphed with the castanets |url=https://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/sociedad/201602/16/bilbainita-triunfo-castanuelas-20160215134651.html |work=El Correo |access-date=9 September 2018 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909185158/https://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/sociedad/201602/16/bilbainita-triunfo-castanuelas-20160215134651.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Also relevant is the Bilbao Choir Society (''[[Sociedad Coral de Bilbao|Bilboko Koral Elkartea]]''), established in 1866. Important musical bands coming from the city include rock band ''[[Fito & Fitipaldis]]'', Basque [[Folk music|folk]] band ''[[Oskorri]]'' and folk-pop band ''[[Mocedades]]''.

Bilbao hosted the [[2018 MTV Europe Music Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/cultura/20181105/452736870981/mtv-ema-2018-bilbao-actuaciones.html|title=Las mejores actuaciones de los MTV Europe Music Awards 2018|date=5 November 2018|work=La Vanguardia|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-date=24 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524091928/https://www.lavanguardia.com/cultura/20181105/452736870981/mtv-ema-2018-bilbao-actuaciones.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Festivals and events ===
{{see also|Aste Nagusia}}
[[File:Larunbata20-87-bilbokokonpartsak.jpg|thumb|right|''Marijaia'' and the ''{{lang|es|konpartsak}}'' during the ''Aste Nagusia'', with ''[[Gigantes y cabezudos]]'' in the background]]

Bilbao hosts several regular festivals and events. The most relevant is the Big Week of the city (''[[Aste Nagusia]]''), celebrated annually since 1978 and lasting nine days. It is the city's main festival, attracting over 1,500,000 people every year.<ref>{{cite news
 |url          = https://www.elcorreo.com/aste-nagusia-bilbao/aburto-balance-positivo-20180826133531-nt.html
 |title        = Aburto hace un balance 'muy positivo' de Aste Nagusia y cifra en cuatro las agresiones sexuales
 |language     = es
 |work         = El Correo
 |date         = 26 August 2018
 |access-date  = 26 August 2018
 |archive-date = 27 August 2018
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20180827075326/https://www.elcorreo.com/aste-nagusia-bilbao/aburto-balance-positivo-20180826133531-nt.html
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref> The festivities begin on the first Saturday before 22 August, and during those nine days the city hall organises a series of cultural events of diverse kind, including concerts, stage plays, [[Basque rural sports]] and [[Spanish-style bullfighting|bullfighting]], as well as nightly firework displays. The festivities begin with the ''chupinazo'' or ''txupinazo'', which is the launch of a small rocket, and the reading of a proclamation by the festivities' herald. The central point of the festivities is the place around the ''txosnas'', where the different ''[[Comparsa|konpartsak]]'' are reunited, organised by neighbourhood associations as well as cultural, social and political groups. The symbol of the festivities is ''Marijaia'', a large doll which is burned during the last day of celebrations.

Beyond the main festivities of the ''Aste Nagusia'', the city also celebrates some minor festivities, many of them religious in nature, such as [[Agatha of Sicily|Saint Agatha]] on 5 February, the celebrations of [[Our Lady of Begoña]] on 11 October, the Day of [[Thomas the Apostle]] on 21 December and the Christmas festivities, centred around the figure of [[Olentzero]]. There are also festivities in the different neighbourhoods and districts which are celebrated locally, such as the ''Fiestas del Carmen'' in Santutxu and Indautxu, ''Fiestas Santiago'' in Bilbao la Vieja, ''Fiestas San Ignacio'' in San Inazio and ''Fiestas San Roque'' in Arxtanda and Larraskitu.

The city also hosts the International Festival of Documentary and Short Film under the commercial name of Zinebi. It was first held in 1959 under the name International Festival of Ibero-American and Filipino Documentary Film of Bilbao, with the goal of being complementary to the [[San Sebastián International Film Festival]]. Since 1981 it is organised by the city hall and takes place in the Arriaga Theatre. Bilbao is also the host of the SAIL in Festival, a yearly event centred exclusively around sailing, which brings together international representatives of this sport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kulturklik.euskadi.eus/evento/2018022111025172/sail-in-festival-2018/kulturklik/es/z12-detalle/es/ |title=SAIL in Festival 2018 |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=kulturklik |date=21 February 2018 |publisher=Basque Autonomous Government |access-date=9 September 2018 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909185603/http://www.kulturklik.euskadi.eus/evento/2018022111025172/sail-in-festival-2018/kulturklik/es/z12-detalle/es/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{see also|Basque cuisine}}
[[File:Bacalao Vizcaina (Marugán).jpg|thumb|right|Biscayan-style cod]]
Traditional Bilbao dishes are centred around products from the sea and the estuary, such as [[European eel|eels]] and [[Atlantic cod|cod]]. For the most part Bilbao shares its original gastronomy with that of the province of [[Biscay]], including dishes such as ''bacalao al pil pil'' (cod fish cooked with olive oil, garlic and guindilla peppers), ''bacalao a la vizcaína'' (salted cod with Biscayan sauce, mostly made of ''choricero'' peppers and onions), ''merluza en salsa verde'' (hake fish with [[green sauce]]), ''chipirones en su tinta'' ([[Squid as food|squid]] served with [[Cephalopod ink|its own ink]]), ''morros a la vizcaína'' (beef snouts with Biscayan sauce), ''revuelto de perretxikos'' (scrambled eggs with mushrooms) and desserts such as ''canutillos de Bilbao'' (puff pastries filled with custard or chocolate), ''[[Pantxineta]]'' (puff pastries filled with custard and almonds), [[rice cake]]s and ''bollos de mantequilla'' (butter buns).

Bilbao, as other [[Basque Country (greater region)|Basque]] cities, is known for a variety of appetizers and snacks, being prominent among them the ''[[Pincho|pintxos]]'', which are typically eaten in bars and that consist of small slices of bread on top of which is placed an ingredient or mixture of ingredients, generally of many different types and usually including elements typical of Basque cuisine. Other snacks include ''rabas'' (fried or battered calamari rings, usually served with lemon slices), [[Spanish omelette]] (omelette made with eggs and potatoes, sometimes including onions and peppers), ''{{lang|es|txampis}}'' (stuffed mushrooms), ''triángulos'' (Bilbao-style sandwiches),<ref>{{cite news |last=Basabe |first=Nere |date=27 November 2013 |title=Culto a los triángulos de Bilbao |url=https://elviajero.elpais.com/elviajero/2013/11/19/actualidad/1384888329_411290.html |work=El País |access-date=9 September 2018 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909185119/https://elviajero.elpais.com/elviajero/2013/11/19/actualidad/1384888329_411290.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''gildas'' (one or more olives, a ''guindilla'' pepper and an anchovy joined together with a toothpick).

As for beverages, typical from the region is the ''[[txakoli]]'', a [[white wine]] usually drunk as an [[Apéritif and digestif|apéritif]]. Biscayan ''txakoli'' (''[[Bizkaiko Txakolina]]'') is a protected {{Lang|es|[[Denominación de origen]]}} for the white wine produced in the province of Biscay and it is usually served in Bilbao. Also typical are [[cider]], ''[[patxaran]]'' ([[sloe]]-flavoured liqueur) and [[Rioja (wine)|''Rioja'' wine]].

There are many restaurants and bars who serve these dishes and beverages, especially around the [[Casco Viejo]] quarter. ''[[Txoko]]s'' are also a very popular institution in Bilbao, as in other Basque cities and towns. Bilbao, and the province of Biscay as a whole, is one of the spanish cities with a greater number of recognized restaurants by the gastronomic guides, among them several Michelin-starred restaurants.

=== Language ===

The Spanish language is the most used language of the city, followed by the [[Basque language]], which is local to the region. The presence of Basque in the city is less prominent than in other municipalities of the region, such as [[Bermeo]] or [[Lekeitio]]. In 1986, the bilingual Basque-speaking population represented about 28% of the total. However, the number of Basque speakers has experienced a continuous increase since, reaching a figure of 37% in 2001.<ref name="Basque language">{{cite web |url=http://www.bilbao.net/castella/relaciones_ciudadanas/publicaciones/bilbao_en_cifras/2007/euskera.pdf |title=Linguistic competence of the Bilbao population older than 5 years. |author=<!--Not stated--> |year=2001 |website=Bilbao City Hall |publisher=Bilbao Municipal Government |access-date=20 October 2008 |archive-date=1 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001170837/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/relaciones_ciudadanas/publicaciones/bilbao_en_cifras/2007/euskera.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> More than half of the Basque speakers were younger than 30 and lived in the districts of Deusto, Begoña and Abando.<ref name="Basque language" />

According to the data from the 2016 census, the population older than 2 years old registered in the municipality of Bilbao who speaks Basque fluently represents 29% of the total population, while those who can speak it with difficulty represent around 19.95% of the total. Finally, those who cannot speak or understand the language represent the remaining 51.06% of the census.

{| class="wikitable left" style="text-align:right;"
|+Evolution of the Basque-speaking population<ref name="Basque language" /><ref>"Linguistic competence in the capitals", in ''[http://www.euskara.euskadi.net/r59-738/es/contenidos/informacion/argitalpenak/es_6092/adjuntos/MAPAcast.pdf 4th Social-Linguistic Map. 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605100618/http://www.euskara.euskadi.net/r59-738/es/contenidos/informacion/argitalpenak/es_6092/adjuntos/MAPAcast.pdf |date=5 June 2014 }}''. [[Basque Government]] (2009).</ref>
!Group!!1981!!1986!!1991!!1996!!2001!!2006!!2011!!2016
|-
|  style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|'''''Bilinguals''''': Able to understand and speak both Basque and Spanish||23,430||33,181||34,429||49,519||51,302||80,903||78,727||97,287
|-
|  style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|'''''Passive bilinguals''''': Able to understand Basque but cannot speak it, while able to understand and speak Spanish||47,288||63,598||65,925||66,797||71,189||63,404||96,774||67,004
|-
|  style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|'''''Spanish monolinguals''''': Unable to understand or speak Basque, only Spanish
||296,703||266,045||255,210||229,336||212,485||190,483||166,869||171,441
|- style="background:#efefef;"
|align=left|'''Population'''||'''367,421'''||'''362,824'''||'''355,564'''||'''345,652'''||'''334,976'''||'''334,790'''||'''342,370'''||'''335,732'''
|}

==Transport==
[[File:Bilbao - Intermodal 23 retouched.jpg|thumb|[[Bilbao Intermodal]] is the main bus station of Bilbao.]]

=== Roads and highways ===

Bilbao is a relevant transport hub for northern Spain. Bilbao is connected to three major motorways and a series of minor roads of national and provincial level. The city lies on two international roads, the [[European route E70]] that follows the coast of the [[Bay of Biscay]] and the cities of [[Santander, Spain|Santander]] and [[Gijón]] to the west and with [[Eibar]], [[San Sebastián]] and [[Bordeaux]] to the east. The [[European route E80]] connects the city with inner Spain to the south, including [[Burgos]] and [[Salamanca]] and continuing to [[Lisbon]], and [[Toulouse]] to the north. The [[Autopista AP-68|AP-68]] motorway (European road E-804) starts in the city, joining with [[Vitoria-Gasteiz]], [[Logroño]] and ending in [[Zaragoza]].

The city is connected with the regions of [[Cantabria]], Asturias and [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] via the [[Autovía A-8|A-8]] motorway and with [[Durango, Biscay|Durango]], Eibar, San Sebastián and the French border via the [[Autopista AP-8|AP-8]] motorway, which is a toll road. The AP-68 toll motorway to the south is the main road connecting Bilbao with southern Spain and the Mediterranean coast, connecting in [[Miranda de Ebro]] with the [[Autovía A-1|A-1]] to [[Madrid]] and in Zaragoza with the [[Autopista AP-2|AP-2]] to [[Barcelona]].

Minor roads passing through Bilbao or starting in the city itself include the national road [[N-634 road (Spain)|N-634]] which connects San Sebastián with [[Santiago de Compostela]] and runs parallel to the A-8 and AP-8 motorways. The regional road BI-631 connects Bilbao with [[Bermeo]], while the BI-626 joins the city with [[Balmaseda]]. The city is circled by the BI-625 and N-637 roads, which form a half-ring to the east, and the N-634 and A-8 to the west.

The city's main arteries the [[Gran Vía de Don Diego López de Haro]], which crosses the financial and business district of [[Abando]] and connecting it with the [[Casco Viejo]] to the east and the San Mamés area to the west. The Sabino Arana Avenue and Juan Antonio Zunzunegui Avenue provide a direct route between the central districts and the motorways while Autonomía Street joins the southern districts on an east-west direction. The city has 14 bridges connecting opposite sides of the [[Estuary of Bilbao]] and the [[Cadagua|Kadagua]] river, including the [[La Salve]] and Euskalduna bridges, as well a series of tunnels under the [[Mount Artxanda]].

=== Airports ===
[[File:Aeropuerto Bilbao Loiu 01.jpg|thumb|right|Bilbao Airport]]
Bilbao is served by the [[Bilbao Airport]] (BIO), the busiest terminal in the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] and in the entire Northern coast, with more than 5.4&nbsp;million passengers in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aena.es/csee/ccurl/792/416/Informe2018_provisionales.pdf|title=Tráfico de pasajeros, operaciones y carga en los aeropuertos españoles|year=2018|publisher=[[Aena]]|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-date=14 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114210531/http://www.aena.es/csee/ccurl/792/416/Informe2018_provisionales.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is located {{convert|12|km|2|abbr=on}} north of the borough, between the municipalities of [[Loiu]] and [[Sondika]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?Language=ES_ES&pagename=subHome&MO=1&SMO=1&SiteName=BIO&c=Page&cid=1047658432537 |title=Cómo llegar |editor=[[Aena]] |access-date=22 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922012153/http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?cid=1047658432537&pagename=subHome&Language=ES_ES&SMO=1&SiteName=BIO&c=Page&MO=1 |archive-date=22 September 2008  }}</ref> 20 airlines operate in the terminal, including [[Iberia]], [[Lufthansa]], and [[TAP Portugal]]. Top destinations include [[London]], [[Frankfurt]], [[Munich]], [[Madrid]], [[Barcelona]], [[Málaga]], [[Paris]], [[Brussels]], and [[Amsterdam]].<ref name="deiaairport">{{cite web|url=http://www.bilbaoair.info/index.php/es/destinos-desde-el-aeropuerto-de-bilbao/|title=Mapa de destinos desde el aeropuerto de Bilbao|website=Bilbao Air|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501210827/http://www.bilbaoair.info/index.php/es/destinos-desde-el-aeropuerto-de-bilbao/|archive-date=1 May 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> It opened to the public in September 1948, with a regular flight to Madrid. On 19 November 2000, a new terminal building was opened, designed by Valencian architect [[Santiago Calatrava]]. In February 2009, a project was approved to expand the current building to double its capacity. Although originally expected to be completed by 2014, the [[2008 financial crisis]] and the decrease of passenger traffic delayed it to at least 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20101119/vizcaya/ampliacion-aeropuerto-bilbao-retrasa-20101119.html | title=La ampliación del aeropuerto de Bilbao se retrasa al menos 5 años | work=[[El Correo]] | date=19 November 2010 | access-date = 23 January 2011 | archive-date = 26 January 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110126103340/http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20101119/vizcaya/ampliacion-aeropuerto-bilbao-retrasa-20101119.html | url-status = live }}</ref> No work has begun as of 2018.

Some low-cost airlines, such as [[Ryanair]], also use the [[Vitoria Airport]] (VIT) located in [[Foronda]] located 59&nbsp;km (37&nbsp;mi) south of the city.

=== Railways ===
{{Main|Bilbao rail network}}

[[File:Bilbao - Estación de Abando Indalecio Prieto 02.jpg|thumb|right|Bilbao-Abando railway station]]
Long-distance rail lines connect Bilbao with Madrid, Barcelona and other destinations in northern Spain. The city has three main railway stations: the [[Bilbao-Abando railway station|Bilbao-Abando]] and [[Bilbao Concordia|Bilbao-Concordia]] railway stations are owned by [[Adif]] and operated by the Spanish railways [[Renfe Operadora|Renfe]], whereas the [[Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo]] station is owned by the Basque railway network ETS and operated by [[Euskotren]] and [[Metro Bilbao (company)|Metro Bilbao]], serving short-distance local destinations.

The Bilbao-Abando station is the main railway station of the city, with Renfe running [[Iberian-gauge railways|Iberian-gauge]] long-distance [[Alvia]] trains to [[Madrid]] and [[Barcelona]], as well as Intercity services to [[Miranda de Ebro]] with connections possible to [[A Coruña]] and [[Hendaye]]. During the summer there are special trains to [[Málaga]]. The station will be connected to the [[Basque Y]] high-speed train network around 2038, allowing for high speed [[AVE]] trains to operate between the Basque capitals and also to Madrid and other Spanish cities in the future.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The new stations in Bilbao and Vitoria will be defined by the end of the year |url=http://www.elcorreo.com/sociedad/nuevas-estaciones-bilbao-20171030182922-nt.html |work=El Correo |date=30 October 2017 |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-date=14 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914060659/https://www.elcorreo.com/sociedad/nuevas-estaciones-bilbao-20171030182922-nt.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The arrival of the new high speed services will involve the creation of a completely new underground station that will replace the current infrastructure and merge Abando and Concordia into one single station. The construction is expected to begin in 2027.<ref>{{cite news |last=Igea |first=Octavio |date=8 March 2018 |title=The new high-speed train station in Abando will cost 480 millions |url=https://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/nueva-estacion-abando-20180308151328-nt.html |work=El Correo |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-date=13 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913185354/https://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/nueva-estacion-abando-20180308151328-nt.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Bilbao-Concordia station is located in close vicinity to Bilbao-Abando, and hosts the [[narrow-gauge railway]] services ran by Renfe. Renfe runs some regional trains to the cities of [[Santander, Spain|Santander]] and [[León, Spain|León]]. [[Euskotren Trena]] runs regular commuter and regional services from the Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo station to Durango, [[Bermeo]], Eibar and San Sebastián.

=== Public transport ===
[[File:Bilbao Metro 05 2012 2406.jpg|thumb|right|Abando station of Bilbao metro]]
[[File:Bilbao Metro 05 2012 2111.jpg|thumb|Metro entrance in Moyua, called "''fosteritos''" after designer Norman Foster]]
[[File:Euskotren Tranbia Uribitarte2016.jpg|thumb|Tram unit leaving the Uribitare stop]]
Public transport by rail and bus is organised by the ''Bizkaiko Garraio Partzuergoa'' (Consortium of the Biscayan Transport). The consortium manages the [[Barik card]], a form of [[electronic ticket]] valid across almost all public transport systems of the [[Bilbao metropolitan area]] and [[Biscay]] province, as well as some other selected services in other provinces of the Basque autonomous community.

The mass transit rail system is divided into different networks managed by separate operators. The [[Bilbao metro]], established in 1995, operates two underground lines with some overground sections ([[Line 1 (Metro Bilbao)|Line 1]] and [[Line 2 (Metro Bilbao)|Line 2]]). These two lines connect the metropolitan area following the estuary on both sides, starting in [[Etxebarri]] in the south all the way to [[Plentzia]] and [[Santurtzi]] by the coast. Line 1 was built following largely the same route as the Bilbao-Las Arenas railway, which was still active by the time the Metro system opened in 1995 and has since been replaced by it. The metro system stations were designed by [[Norman Foster]]. Line 3 of the metro is operated by [[Euskotren Trena]], which also operates the regional services to Durango and Eibar as well as a commuter rail line that connects the centre of Bilbao with [[Lezama]] and the Txorierri valley. This third line of metro was inaugurated on 8 April 2017 and is expected to be extended to the [[Bilbao Airport|airport]] in the near future. Projects for a fourth and fifth line exist and are currently being studied.

[[Renfe Operadora|Renfe]] operates four commuter-rail lines in a system separate from the metro under the [[Cercanías]] brand and are collectively known as ''[[Cercanías Bilbao]]''. The four lines operated under the Cercanías name operate largely overground and travel larger distances than the metro system, reaching municipalities outside of the metropolitan area such as [[Muskiz]] or even outside of the Biscay province, like [[Amurrio]]. The four lines start in either the [[Bilbao-Abando railway station|Bilbao-Abando]] or the Bilbao-Concordia railway stations.

Euskotren also operates a [[Bilbao tram|tramway line]] under the brand [[Euskotren Tranbia]]. The line follows the estuary of Bilbao across the central districts of the city, starting in the [[Bilbao-Atxuri Station]] and connecting important areas like the Guggenheim museum and the San Mamés football stadium. The original tram network started operations in 1876 and gradually expanded across the city to finally shut down in the 1960s due to being largely replaced by urban buses. The new tram system was opened on 18 December 2002, almost forty years after the closing of the original system.

The gaps in the railway service are covered by an extensive bus network. The urban bus system is operated under the brand [[Bilbobus]] and has 28 regular bus lines, 8 microbus lines and 8 night buses collectively known as ''Gautxori'' (night owl). The Bilbaobus network is limited to the city limits, and only a few lines extend beyond it. The [[BizkaiBus]] network fills this gap, with more than 100 lines, connecting the city with all other municipalities in the metropolitan area, as well as with most towns in [[Biscay]] and some in [[Álava]].

A [[Brittany Ferries]] ferry service links Santurtzi, near Bilbao, to [[Portsmouth]] (UK). [[MV Cap Finistère]] ferry departs from the [[port of Bilbao]], {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} north west of the town centre. A service operated by [[Trasmediterranea|Acciona Trasmediterranea]] served the same route from 16 May 2006 until April 2007. [[P&O Ferries]] operated this route until its withdrawal on 28 September 2010 with a ship called the [[Pride of Bilbao]].

===Public transportation statistics===
The average amount of time people spend commuting with public transit in Bilbao, for example to and from work, on a weekday is 35 minutes. Three percent of public transit passengers ride for more than 2 hours every day. The average amount of time people wait at a stop or station for public transit is 7 minutes, while 4% of riders wait for over 20 minutes on average every day. The average distance people usually ride in a single trip with public transit is {{Convert|6.9|km|mi|abbr=on}}, while 10% travel more than {{Convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on}} in a single direction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://moovitapp.com/insights/en/Moovit_Insights_Public_Transit_Index_Spain_Bilbao-1505|title=Bilbao Public Transportation Statistics|publisher=Global Public Transit Index by Moovit|access-date=19 June 2017}} [[File:CC-BY icon.svg|50x50px]] Material was copied from this source, which is available under a [[creativecommons:by/4.0/|Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence]].</ref>
{{clear}}

== Infrastructure ==

=== Healthcare ===
[[File:Bilbao - Hospital Universitario de Basurto 10 edited.jpg|thumb|right|University Hospital of Basurto]]
The public healthcare system is served and managed by the Basque healthcare system (''[[Osakidetza]]''), which has a network of medical centres established across the city. The most relevant hospital of the city is the Basurto Hospital, located in the [[Basurto-Zorroza]] district. It was opened in 1908 after ten years of construction, and it was built due to the fast increase of population in the late 19th century. Its design was based on the [[University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf|Eppendorf Hospital]] of [[Hamburg]], in (Germany), one of the most modern at the time.<ref>{{cite news |last=González |first=Carlos |title=A Hundred Years of the Basurto Hospital |url=http://servicios.elcorreodigital.com/aniversario/hospital-basurto/historia.html |work=El Correo Digital |access-date=2 December 2008 |archive-date=26 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226060251/http://servicios.elcorreodigital.com/aniversario/hospital-basurto/historia.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2008 the hospital was named the best hospital in customer support in Spain.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Basurto wins the award of best hospital in customer care |url=http://www.deia.com/es/digital/bizkaia/2008/11/11/514635.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124075612/http://www.deia.com/es/digital/bizkaia/2008/11/11/514635.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2009|work=Deia|date=11 November 2008 |access-date=9 September 2018}}</ref>

However, the two largest hospitals that provide healthcare services to the inhabitants of the city are located outside of the city limits: the University Hospital of Gurutzeta/Cruces in neighbouring [[Barakaldo]] and the Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital in [[Galdakao]]. Other minor public hospitals located in the city include the Santa Marina Hospital and the Hospital of Urduliz, located in the metropolitan area.

=== Utilities ===
[[File:Petroleo birfindegia eta Muskiz.JPG|thumb|right|upright=0.9|Oil refinery in Muskiz]]
The headquarters of ''[[Iberdrola]]'', a [[multinational corporation|multinational]] [[electric utility]] company are located in Bilbao. The company was created in 1992 after the merging of ''[[Iberduero]]'' and ''Hidroeléctrica Española'' and it is in charge of production and distribution of electricity. There are two [[thermal power station]]s located in the city's surroundings, one in [[Santurtzi]] and the other in [[Zierbena]]. The electricity produced in both these stations is then transferred to the [[electrical substation]] of [[Güeñes]] by the company ''[[Red Eléctrica de España]]'', which is the company responsible of moving electricity from the production stations to the final consumers. There is a [[combined cycle]] power station in the municipality of [[Amorebieta-Etxano|Amorebieta]] called ''Bizkaia Energia'', whose energy is transferred to the substation of [[Gatika]].

The supply of all oil-based fuels distributed in the whole metropolitan area (gasoline, [[diesel fuel]] and [[butane]]) are produced in the [[oil refinery]] owned by ''[[Petronor]]'' in the municipalities of [[Muskiz]] and [[Abanto y Ciérbana-Abanto Zierbena|Abanto Zierbena]]. ''Petronor'' is a large oil company founded in Bilbao in 1968 and it currently comprises two partners, [[Repsol]] (85.98%) and [[Kutxabank]] (14.02%).

Supply of [[drinking water]] is managed by the ''Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia'' (Bilbao Bizkaia Water Consortium), a public entity with the responsibility of managing the water infrastructure and distribution to many Biscayan municipalities, Bilbao and its metropolitan area included.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.consorciodeaguas.eus/Web/QuienesSomos/competencias.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120021832/http://www.consorciodeaguas.eus/Web/QuienesSomos/competencias.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=2017-11-20 |title=Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=Consorcio de Aguas |publisher=Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia |access-date=16 September 2018 }}</ref> The supply of drinking water for the city comes from the [[Reservoir of Ullíbarri-Gamboa|Uribarri-Ganboa]] and Urrunaga reservoirs, which are fed by the river [[Zadorra]].
{{clear}}

==Education==
[[File:Universidad de Deusto.jpg|thumb|The main building of the University of Deusto]]
The Basque Country has a bilingual education system, with students able to choose between four linguistic models: A, B, D, and X, which differ in the prevalence of Basque or Spanish as the spoken and written language used in classes.<ref name="cenoz">{{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/englishineuropea00jaso | url-access = registration | quote = basque linguistic model. | title = English in Europe: the acquisition of a third language | last = Cenoz | first = Jasone |author2=Jessner, Ulrike | publisher = Multilingual Matters | year = 2000 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/englishineuropea00jaso/page/180 180]–181 | isbn = 9781853594793}}</ref> In Bilbao, there is a prevalence of model D (where Basque is the vehicle language and Spanish is taught as a subject) in [[Education in Spain#Private schools|Primary School]], while [[Education in Spain#Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO)|Compulsory Secondary Education]] students favour model B (where some subjects are in Basque and other in Spanish). Finally, 67% of [[Batxillerat|Baccalaureate]] students choose model A (in which Spanish is the vehicle language and Basque is a subject).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bilbao.net/castella/relaciones_ciudadanas/publicaciones/bilbao_en_cifras/2009/educacion.pdf | title = Hezkuntza | publisher = Bilbao City Hall | year = 2009 | access-date = 5 December 2010 | archive-date = 25 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725130743/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/relaciones_ciudadanas/publicaciones/bilbao_en_cifras/2009/educacion.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> English is the most widespread foreign language taught, being the option for 97% of pre-university students.<ref name="cenoz"/>

=== Higher education ===
Two universities are seated in Bilbao. The older is the [[University of Deusto]], founded by the [[Society of Jesus]] in 1886. It took its name from the then independent municipality of [[Deusto]], annexed to Bilbao in 1925. It was the only higher education institute in the borough until the establishment in 1968 of the University of Bilbao, later to become the [[University of the Basque Country]] in 1980. This public university, which has a presence in the three provinces of the autonomous community, has its main Biscayan campus in the municipality of [[Leioa]], although the Technical and Business faculties are based in Bilbao.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ehu.es/p200-content/es/contenidos/enlace/listado_centros/es_centros/centros.html | title = Centros | date = 20 September 2006 | publisher = [[University of the Basque Country|UPV-EHU]] | access-date = 5 December 2010 | archive-date = 23 September 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100923014746/http://www.ehu.es/p200-content/es/contenidos/enlace/listado_centros/es_centros/centros.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Since 2014, [[Mondragon University]] has also a presence in the city through the innovation and entrepreneurial centre Bilbao Innovation Factory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mondragon.edu/en/actuality/news/news/mondragon-unibertsitatea-opens-a-branch-in-bilbao |title=Mondragon Unibertsitatea opens a branch in Bilbao |publisher=[[University of Mondragón]] |access-date=3 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904074127/http://www.mondragon.edu/en/actuality/news/news/mondragon-unibertsitatea-opens-a-branch-in-bilbao |archive-date=4 September 2015  }}</ref> In 2015, the offer of higher education in the city was expanded with the foundation of Dantzerti, the Higher School of Dramatic Arts and Dance of the Basque Country.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.deia.com/2015/09/24/ocio-y-cultura/cultura/dantzerti-inicia-su-andadura-oficial-buscando-retener-el-talento-en-euskadi | title = Dantzerti inicia su andadura oficial buscando retener el talento en Euskadi | publisher = Deia | access-date = 18 October 2015 | archive-date = 29 September 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150929090318/http://www.deia.com/2015/09/24/ocio-y-cultura/cultura/dantzerti-inicia-su-andadura-oficial-buscando-retener-el-talento-en-euskadi | url-status = dead }}</ref>

== Sport ==
[[File:Bilbao Arena.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Bilbao Arena, home venue of Bilbao Basket]]
[[File:San Mames Barria eta Bilboko ikuspegia.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The San Mamés stadium, home venue of Athletic Bilbao]]
As in the rest of Spain, [[Association football|football]] is the most popular competitive sport, followed by [[basketball]]. Some people are interested in [[Basque rural sports|basque sports]], one of the oldest sports in Spain.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Basque sports: a hallmark of the Basque people |url=https://www.bizkaiatalent.eus/en/pais-vasco-te-espera/senas-de-identidad/deporte-vasco-identidad/ |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=Bizkaia Talent |date=June 2014 |language=es}}</ref> One could enjoy a Basque pelota match in Bizkaia Frontoia, Bilbao. In addition, Bilbao offers many outdoor activities owing to its location by the sea amid the hilly countryside. [[Hiking]] and [[rock climbing]] in the nearby mountains are very popular. [[Watersports]], especially [[surfing]], are practised on the beaches of nearby [[Sopelana]] and [[Mundaka]].

=== Clubs ===
;Football
The main football club is Athletic Club, commonly known as [[Athletic Bilbao]] in English. It plays at the new [[San Mamés Stadium (2013)|San Mamés stadium]], which opened in 2013 and seats 53,332 spectators.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gunther Lades |url=http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/ESP.html |title=Football stadiums of the world – Stadiums in Spain |publisher=Fussballtempel.net |access-date=10 April 2011 |archive-date=15 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915231116/http://fussballtempel.net/uefa/ESP.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Athletic Bilbao was one of the founding members of the Spanish football league, [[La Liga]], and has played in the Primera División (First Division)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/tables?league=esp.1 |title=Spanish Primera División Table – ESPN Soccernet |publisher=ESPN FC |date=11 June 2009 |access-date=7 July 2009 |archive-date=3 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303130444/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/tables?league=ESP.1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ever since – winning it on eight occasions. Its red and white striped flag can be seen throughout the city. Athletic is noted for its ''[[Athletic Bilbao signing policy|Basque policy]]'', in place since 1911, with only players born in or having a clear connection to the [[Basque Country (greater region)|Basque region]] being allowed to represent the club.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://athletic-zurekin.com/por-que-en-el-athletic-solo-juega-gente-de-la-tierra/ |title=>>>¿Por qué en el Athletic solo juegan jugadores de la tierra? &#124; Athletic Zurekin &#124; Noticias Athletic |publisher=Athletic Zurekin |date=2016-02-24 |accessdate=2022-02-17 |archive-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729094408/https://athletic-zurekin.com/por-que-en-el-athletic-solo-juega-gente-de-la-tierra/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

;Basketball
The main basketball club is [[Bilbao Basket]], which plays in the Spanish top division [[Liga ACB]] and their home venue is the [[Bilbao Arena]]. The main achievements of the clubs were being the runner-up of the Liga ACB during the 2010–2011 season, losing the final series 3–0 against [[FC Barcelona Bàsquet]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bilbaobasket.elcorreo.com/noticias/2011-06-15/mueren-como-heroes-20110615.html|title=Mueren de pie, como los héroes-Bizkaia Bilbao Basket|access-date=28 June 2018|author=José M Cortizas|website=bilbaobasket.elcorreo.com|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123101/http://bilbaobasket.elcorreo.com/noticias/2011-06-15/mueren-como-heroes-20110615.html|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the runner-up of the EuroCup Basketball in the 2012–2013 edition, where they lost to the Russian team [[Lokomotiv Kuban]].

== Main sights ==

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Casco Viejo (Bilbao).jpg|[[Casco Viejo]]
File:Bilbao - Guggenheim 46.jpg|[[Guggenheim Museum Bilbao]]
File:Euskalduna Palace (April 2009).jpg|[[Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall]]
File:Bilbao - Plaza Barria (Plaza Nueva) 01.jpg|[[Plaza Nueva, Bilbao|Plaza Nueva]]
File:Bilbao - Ayuntamiento 24.jpg|[[Bilbao City Hall]]
File:Bilbao - Catedral de Santiago 50a.jpg|[[Bilbao Cathedral]]
File:Zubizuri bridge Night 3 (3820816136).jpg|[[Zubizuri]] bridge
File:Bilbao - Zubizuri 07.jpg|[[Zubizuri]] from the other side
File:Bilbao - Plaza Unamuno 01.jpg|Basque Museum and Unamuno Plaza
File:Bilbao - Teatro Arriaga 4.JPG|[[Teatro Arriaga|Arriaga Theatre]]
File:Basilica de Begoña.jpg|[[Basilica of Begoña]]
File:Bilbao San Mamés Stadium 4.jpg|[[San Mamés Stadium (2013)|San Mamés Stadium]]
File:Bilbao - Gran Via 2.jpg|[[Gran Vía de Don Diego López de Haro]]
File:Vistageneralriadebilbao.JPG|[[Estuary of Bilbao]]
File:Bilbao - Parque de Doña Casilda Iturrízar 01.jpg|[[Doña Casilda Iturrizar park]]
File:MBBAABilbao Fachada Antiguo.jpg|[[Bilbao Fine Arts Museum]]
File:Bilbao - Diputacion Foral de Vizcaya 2.jpg|Provincial Government Palace
File:San anton eliza.jpg|[[Church of Saint Anthony the Great|Church of San Antón]] and [[San Antón Bridge]]
File:Bilbao - Alhóndiga 02.jpg|[[Azkuna Zentroa]]
File:Bilbao - ria 1.jpg|Ria de Bilbao
File:Bilbao - El Arenal 3.jpg|El Arenal Park
File:Bilbao - Iglesia de San Nicolás 17.jpg|Church of San Nicolás
File:BilbaoMetro 05 2012 2403.jpg|[[Metro Bilbao]], a work of [[Norman Foster]]
File:Bilbao - Torre Iberdrola 44.jpg|[[Iberdrola Tower]]
File:Funicular de Artxanda.jpg|Funicular to [[Mount Artxanda]]
File:Plaza de Federico Moyúa.jpg|[[Moyúa|Moyua Plaza]]
File:Bilbao - Ribera.jpg|[[Mercado de la Ribera]]
</gallery>

== Notable people ==
* [[Joaquín Achúcarro]] (1932), pianist
* [[José Antonio Aguirre (politician)|José Antonio Aguirre]] (1904–1960), football player,<ref>{{Athletic Bilbao profile|id=103/agirre|name=José Antonio Agirre Lekube}}</ref> nationalist politician and first [[lehendakari]] of Basque Government 
* [[Joaquín Almunia]] (1948), parliamentarian and minister of Spain and commissioner of the European Union
* [[Sabino Arana]] (1865–1903), politician and writer, Fundator of PNV
* [[Gabriel Aresti]] (1933–1975), promoter of poetry in ''[[Basque language|euskara]]''
* [[Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga]] (1806–1826), composer, violinist and orchestra conductor
* [[Pedro Arrupe]] (1907–1991), Jesuit priest, Superior General of the Jesuits between 1965 and 1983
* [[Ramón Baglietto]] (1936–1980), politician
* [[Mariví Bilbao]] (1930–2013), actress
* [[Fito Cabrales]] (1966), singer, guitarist and composer
* [[Asier Etxeandia]] (1975), actor and singer
* [[Borja Fernández (skater)|Borja Fernández]] (born 1984), skater
* [[Don Diego de Gardoqui|Diego de Gardoqui]] (1735–1798), politician and diplomat, first Spanish ambassador to the United States
* [[Ander Herrera]] (born 1989), professional footballer
* [[Álex de la Iglesia]] (1965), film director and scriptwriter
* [[Antonio Fernandez Saenz]] (1947), lawyer and human rights defender
* [[Asier Polo]] (1971), cellist<ref>{{cite web |last1=Polo |first1=Asier |title=Biography |url=https://www.asierpolo.com/en/biography/ |website=Asier Polo Cellist |publisher=Asier Polo |access-date=25 February 2019 |archive-date=12 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712054145/https://www.asierpolo.com/en/biography/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Jon Kortajarena]] (1985), actor and international model
* [[Iñigo Lekue]] (born 1993), professional footballer
* [[Juan Martínez de Recalde]] (c. 1526–1588), admiral
* [[Pichichi (footballer)|Rafael (Pichichi) Moreno]] (1892–1922), football player
* [[Anabel Ochoa]] (1955–2008), psychiatrist, communicologist, writer and actress of ''Los monólogos de la vagina''
* [[Pedro Olea]] (1938), director, producer and film scriptwriter
* [[José Luis de Oriol y Urigüen|José Luis de Oriol]] (1877–1972), businessman, architect and Carlist politician
* [[Txus di Fellatio]], Jesús María Hernández Gil (1970), lyricist, poet and [[Mägo de Oz]] folk metal drummer
* [[Miguel de Unamuno]] (1864–1936), writer and philosopher
* [[Iñaki Williams]] (born 1994), professional footballer
* [[Secundino Zuazo]] (1887–1970), architect and urbanist
* [[Gorka Márquez]] (born 1990), ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'' professional dancer

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain}}
Bilbao is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Las nueve ciudades con las que está hermanada Bilbao|url=https://bilbaohiria.com/bilbao/las-9-ciudades-con-las-que-esta-hermanada-bilbao/|website=bilbaohiria.com|publisher=Bilbao Hiria|language=es|date=2018-09-11|access-date=2019-12-31|archive-date=31 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231124632/https://bilbaohiria.com/bilbao/las-9-ciudades-con-las-que-esta-hermanada-bilbao/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Bordeaux]], France
*{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina
*{{flagicon|COL}} [[Medellín]], Colombia
*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Monterrey]], Mexico
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Pittsburgh]], United States
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Qingdao]], China
*{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Rosario]], Argentina
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Sant Adrià de Besòs]], Spain
*{{flagicon|GEO}} [[Tbilisi]], Georgia
{{div col end}}

== See also ==
* [[Abandoibarra]]
* [[Bilbao metropolitan area]]
* [[Greater Bilbao]]
* [[Lan Ekintza Bilbao]]
* [[Zorrotzaurre]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{See also|Timeline of Bilbao#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Bilbao}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book | last = Beascoechea Madina | first = José María | title = Bilbao en el espejo. La Bilbao más antigua 1300/1700 | year = 1999 | location = Bilbao | isbn = 84-605-7844-5 | page = 194 }}
*{{cite book | last = Gómez Piñeiro| first = Francisco Javier | title = Geografía de Euskal Herria: Vizcaya | year = 1979 | location = [[San Sebastián]] | isbn= 84-7407-068-6 | page = 291 | ref = gom79 | editor7= Luis Haranburu|display-authors=etal}}
*{{cite book | last = Montero | first = Manuel | title = Construcción histórica de la villa de Bilbao | location = San Sebastián | isbn = 84-7148-384-X | page = 142 | year = 2000 | ref = mon00 | editor7= Txertoa}}
*{{cite book|last=Olaizola Elordi |first=Juanjo |title=Bilboko tranbiak-Los tranvías de Bilbao |year=2002 |location=Bilbao |isbn=84-920629-8-3 |page=177 |url=http://www.euskotren.es/euskotran/html/castellano/pdf/LIBRO.pdf |access-date=26 October 2008 |ref=ola02 |editor7=Euskotren |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722080941/http://www.euskotren.es/euskotran/html/castellano/pdf/LIBRO.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2009 }}
*{{cite book | last = Pérez Pérez | first = José Antonio | title = Bilbao y sus barrios: una mirada desde la historia | year = 2001 | isbn = 978-84-88714-94-7  | location = Bilbao | ref = per01 | editor7 = Ayuntamiento de Bilbao. Área de Cultura y Educación}}
*{{cite book | last = Quiroga | first = Ramón |author2=Marrodán, Miguel Ángel | title = Bilbao: 700 años de historia | year = 2001 | location = [[Abanto y Ciérbana-Abanto Zierbena|Abanto y Ciérvana]] | isbn = 84-931494-3-8 | page = 115 | ref = qui01 | editor7 = Salgai}}
*{{cite book | last = Sánchez-Beaskoetxea | first = Javier | title = La vuelta a Bilbao a través de sus montes y de su historia | year = 2006 | location = Bilbao | isbn = 978-84-88714-93-0 | page = 94 | editor7 = Bilbao Aktiba!}}
*{{cite book | last = Tusell Gómez | first = Javier | title = Bilbao a través de su Historia | year = 2004 | location = Bilbao | isbn = 84-95163-91-8 | page = 212 | ref = tus04 | editor7 = Fundación BBVA}}
*{{cite book | last = V.A. | title = La Ría, una razón de ser |date=October–December 1998 | location = Bilbao | page = 147 | ref = ria98 | editor7 = Fundación Museo Marítimo de la Ría de Bilbao}}
*{{cite book | last = V.A. | title = El karst de Pagasarri | year = 2000 | publisher = Bizkaiko Foru Aldundia = Diputación Foral de Bizkaia | isbn = 84-7752-319-3 | ref = kar00 | editor7 = Instituto de Estudios Territoriales de Bizkaia}}
*{{cite book |author1=García de la Torre |author2=Francisco Javier |title = Bilbao : arquitectura | year = 2009 |publisher=GarcíadelaTorre, Arquitectos | isbn = 9788461328703}} 
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website}} {{in lang|eu|es}}

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