Bilbao

Bilbao (Basque: Bilbo) in the North of Spain, is the largest city in the Pais Vasco and the capital of the province of Vizcaya (Basque: Bizkaia).

Regeneration and Renewal

The city has recently undergone major urban renewal, in order to move away from the region?s industrial history and instead focus on tourism and services. The developments are centred around the new metro system by Sir Norman Foster (see Metro Bilbao) and, most of all, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao by Frank Gehry. A new tram (EuskoTran) was introduced in 2002. The Port of Bilbao, formerly on the river, has been moved and expanded downstream on the Bay of Biscay, opening a great deal of central real estate on the river that has been the site of most of the new building. Other new landmarks include the Santiago Calatrava-designed Zubi-Zuri Bridge and the Euskalduna Palace, a cultural centre, further upstream. The two points are linked by a new riverside passageway opposite Deusto University, which provides an open green space for the city?s inhabitants to relax.

Related Topics:
Urban renewal - Tourism - Metro - Norman Foster - Metro Bilbao - Guggenheim Museum Bilbao - Frank Gehry - Tram - EuskoTran - 2002 - Port of Bilbao - Bay of Biscay - Santiago Calatrava - Zubi-Zuri Bridge - Euskalduna Palace - Deusto University

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A major landmark tower, designed by César Pelli, to house the Biscay local government will also be built and there are ambitious plans to regenerate the peninsula on the river known as Zorrozaurre. A new airport terminal was opened in 2000, massively expanding the capacity of the former facility, and allowing growth in tourism fuelled by low-cost flights by airlines such as easyJet and Vueling.

Related Topics:
César Pelli - Zorrozaurre - Airport - 2000 - Tourism - Airlines - EasyJet - Vueling

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Developing Tourism

The idea is to create a city interesting and attractive to tourists: a bubbling city with a good selection of hotels surrounded by beautiful countryside and high interest for visitors. As well as the famous Guggenheim Museum, the city acts as home for the Fine Art Museum (recognised as one of Spain?s finest art museums and recently refurbished) and the Maritime Museum on the Nervion?s banks, which recently hosted the RMS Titanic exhibition which has been touring Europe. These only represent a small portion of what the city has to offer.

Related Topics:
Hotels - Fine Art Museum - Maritime Museum - RMS ''Titanic''

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