Bilbao, Spain

43° 15' 0" N 2° 58' 0" W Located 1 hour away from France in the Biscay Province

Located in the Basque Country (País Vasco or Euskal Herria)

Climate  Oceanic Climate-generally mild  Average rainfall is 47 inches per year & on average snows 3 days

 Largest city in the Basque Country  353,168 people live in Bilbao while 953,152 live in the greater Bilbao area  Located on both banks of the Nervión River  It was founded in 1300 on the site of an ancient settlement

Language  Spanish and Basque are spoken  Many names of places are in Basque  Spanish is mostly spoken in Bilbao, while Basque is spoken in smaller towns and villages  ‘Bilbo’ is Bilbao in Basque  ‘Agur’ can mean hello and good-bye

The City of Bilbao: The main business and services hub of the metropolitan area, with roughly 40% of its population The Left Bank: Traditionally an industrial, port, and manufacturing zone. It includes Barakaldo, Sestao, Portugalete and Santurce. The Right Bank: A residential area, including Erandio, Leio, and Getxo. The Mining Zone: The main iron ore resources are located here and include Muskiz, Gallarta, Ortuella. Txoriherri: A wide expansion zone where the airport and the University of the Basque Country are located. Hego Uribe: Includes the areas of Basauri and Galdakao. Uribe-Kosta: The coastal area north of Getxo Areas

Transportation  Bilbao Airport (BIO) is located 9 km north of Bilbao in the municipality of Loiu  Buses are available from the TermiBus terminal located right outside of the San Mamés station  Regional trains run multiple times a day from the Abando station  MetroBilbao and many public buses are available for commuting in the greater Bilbao area

Attractions

Guggenheim Museum  5 different Guggenheim Museums of modern art located throughout the world, with one of them located in Bilbao  The museum was designed by Frank Gehry to look like a ship

Casco Viejo  Means ‘old town’ in Spanish  Has various shops, restaurants, museums and churches  Plaza Nueva located in Casco Viejo

Athletic Club Bilbao’s soccer team is in Spain’s first division The Mascot is a lion Their Colors are red & white The Athletic Club plays at San Mamés, a stadium located in the center of Bilbao

Athletic Club-History Bilbao was a leading port in the 1800’s attracting migrant workers, including many from Britain. In the 1890’s these workers formed the Bilbao Football Club. Many sons of educated Basques attended school in the United Kingdom, and while there learned to play soccer. In 1898, students belonging to the Gymnasium Zamacois founded the Athletic Club and in 1901 the rules and regulations were created. In 1902, two Bilbao clubs formed a combined team, known as Club Vizcaya, in the first Copa del Rey (Cup of the King). They defeated FC Barcelona to win the cup. The Athletic Club has won the Copa del Rey 23 times and made it to the championship in 2009.

Local Food & Drinks to Try… Pintxo  A small snack eaten in a bar, usually with a glass of wine Kalimotxo  A Basque tradition, cheap red wine with Coca-Cola Txakoli  A white wine made in the Basque region

Created by Abbey Heikes