Cultural tours: Cultural Tourism in Bilbao, Bizkaia in Spain is culture

Styles

In this section you can search all our contents throughout the different stages in the history of art in Spain, to find styles such as Baroque, Gothic, Mudejar and many, many more.

Modernism and Avant-garde movements The turn of the century brought new winds of modernity. The aesthetic sensibility of the time was marked by a different, freer attitude towards art and life.

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Bilbao

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Guggenheim Museum © Turespaña
Arriaga Theatre © Turespaña
Deusto University © Turespaña

Bilbao
Vizcaya - Bizkaia, Basque Country

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Bilbao is the centre of the socioeconomic development and the main driver behind the modernisation of the Bay of Biscay. The great architectural and infrastructure projects have been the driving force of the urban and economic regeneration of the city. The Guggenheim Museum, the Conference Centre and the Música Euskalduna Centre, the metro designed by Norman Foster, Calatrava Airport, the towers designed by architects Arata Isozaki and César Pelli are just a few examples of the overwhelming vitality to be experienced in Bilbao. Located in the Biscay region (Basque Country), the city is surrounded by forests, mountains, beaches and steep coastlines that make the city a privileged destination for visitors.

A variety of artistic expressions

Bilbao’s cultural selection is irresistible. It is home to two of the best art galleries in Spain and several thematic museums. Firstly, there is the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao which has become the cultural and tourism driving force of the Basque Country. This spectacular building (Frank O. Gehry, 1997) is covered in titanium panels and has its own important collection, as well as sharing one of the most important private modern and contemporary art collections in the world with New York and Venice. Secondly, there is the Fine Arts Museum, housing a complete and priceless art gallery with three collections: old art (El Greco, Zurbarán, Goya or Van Dyck), contemporary art (Gauguin, Bacon or Tàpies) and Basque art (Regoyos, Zuloaga or Iturrino).

In addition, the Basque Museum covers Basque pre-history and archaeology; the Diocesan Museum of Religious Art and the Easter Week Pasos Museum house work related to Biscay religious art; the Sala Rekalde offers top-flight exhibitions on contemporary art, and the Maritime Museum and Bullfighting Museum round off the museum selection in Bilbao.

With regards to performing arts, the prestigious opera season in Bilbao brings together top international singing stars in spectacular shows at the Euskalduna Palace. The Bilbao and Euskadi Symphony Orchestras and the Municipal Band offer concerts throughout the year for classical music lovers. In turn, the Arriaga Theatre is home to a varied programme of theatre, dance and music.

Different architectural styles

Bilbao’s 700 year history can be seen in its buildings and constructions. The old town, an Historic-Artistic Monument, is a reference point for reconstructing the city’s history from its beginnings. The city centre is an example of the best 20th century architecture, with buildings that serve as headquarters for the main institutions and companies in Bilbao.

Nonetheless, the city continues to expand: alongside the skill of local architects, the top international firms are represented with works by Foster, Gehry, Calatrava, Isozaki, Pelli...

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