Costa Verde Express Route: Bilbao

Bilbao is internationally recognized for its avant-garde spirit, culinary art, and love of cooking. With astonishing architecture and impressive landscapes, Bilbao is one of the jewels of the Basque Country, possessing a genuine Basque soul.

The origins of the town of Bilbao trace back to the year 1300 when it was founded by the Castilian noble Diego López de Haro, nicknamed El Intruso, who signed its charter. Although its foundation dates back to the last year of the 13th century, archaeological excavations have revealed that settlements existed before this century, with population centers near the Nervión river and landmarks such as the medieval wall and the Church of San Antón. The city was essentially born due to its optimal location at the end of the Nervión estuary, strategic and crucial for developing trade in the Cantabrian Sea.

Pilgrimage, Trade, and Industry

Bilbao lies on the route of the Camino de Santiago, making it a passageway during the Middle Ages for both pilgrims and merchants traveling from Castile to Europe. Gradually, it became a major rival of other large Spanish commercial cities such as Barcelona or the mighty Seville. Its Old Town grew to include 4 streets in addition to the original 3, eventually known as the Seven Streets, a name it still holds today. Its exponential growth led to significant urban renovations and the birth of a later industrial revolution fueled by iron, with its economy linked to this raw material.
The floods that the city suffered in 1983 were significant, as the heavy rains caused the estuary to rise, leaving Bilbao devastated and overwhelmed. Therefore, solutions were sought, and these came thanks to the Guggenheim Foundation. Frank Gehry designed its museum, which represents a titanium ship, symbolizing the city. With its inauguration, the Old Town came back to life, as did the estuary. Bilbao has managed to reinvent itself as a completely new city.

Artistic and Gastronomic Benchmark

Bilbao has become a national and international reference in art, gastronomy, and culture. Besides its famed Guggenheim Museum and Old Town, Bilbao also houses the Arriaga Theater, inspired by the Paris Opera House; the largest Gothic Cathedral of Santiago in Biscay, which serves as the seat of the diocese of Bilbao; the New Square, a neoclassical style and the heart of the Old Town of the city. It is very lively thanks to the large number of restaurants and cafes found under its arcades; the Museum of Fine Arts, which holds over 7,000 artworks, including paintings, sculptures, and other works on paper. Visiting it is the perfect complement to the Guggenheim Museum.
As previously mentioned, Bilbao is an important gastronomic reference. Its dishes are full of personality and are made with high-quality local products. Seafood and fish are highlights, as well as the pintxos. Notable dishes include marmitako, cod, cocochas, piperada, Idiazábal cheese, and for desserts, pantxineta and intxaursalsa.

Green Spain aboard the Costa Verde Express

You can enjoy these delicacies, its spectacular landscapes, and its wonderful artistic-cultural offerings on board the train Costa Verde Express, with its classic routes through the Cantabrian mountains, which can start from Santiago de Compostela to Bilbao or from Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela on its 6-day itineraries, or on its shorter routes from Oviedo to Bilbao, from Bilbao to Oviedo, or from León to Bilbao, lasting 3 days.