Portugalete: Bizkaia Bridge, Old Town and Culture

The Bizkaia Bridge spans the mouth of the Ibaizabal estuary and connects Portugalete with Getxo. The visit includes ascending to the pedestrian walkway. It is 45 metres above the water and has a panoramic lift. The visit also includes crossing the estuary in its transport gondola. Thus, the bridge visit includes both the elevated walkway and the crossing above the water, with both elements explicitly forming part of the visit.

Culture

The Santa Clara Convent in Portugalete has a bell tower. It is designed in the Renaissance and Plateresque styles. These two stylistic designations describe the design of this single architectural element and place the bell tower in its art-historical context. The Basilica of Santa María features a Gothic-Renaissance style. This dates from the end of the 15th century. Its main altarpiece is considered an interesting example of the Basque Renaissance. Thus, both the historical classification of the basilica's architecture and the special classification of the altarpiece are identified.

The Salazar Tower houses a museum. The museum displays exhibits and documents relating to the history of Portugalete and Salazar. Salazar Tower also has a room for temporary exhibitions and an annual exhibition programme. The museum therefore includes historical exhibits and documents as well as a dedicated area for changing presentations and an exhibition programme planned throughout the year.

Townscape and Waterfront

The Old Town of Portugalete consists of three steeply rising main streets. Characteristic cobblestones are a feature of these streets. Connecting cantones are also part of the Old Town. Its spatial structure is therefore defined by the main streets and the cantones running between them, while the cobblestones are named as a shared feature of the main streets.

The Muelle de Hierro de Portugalete is 800 metres long. The first 600 metres consist of an iron framework. The remaining 200 metres are made of stone. The Muelle de Hierro de Portugalete is classified as a Cultural Asset of Special Interest, or Bien de Interés Cultural. Its total length and division into two differently constructed sections therefore belong to the same waterfront structure as its cultural classification.

Industry

The Rialia Museum of Industry has a permanent exhibition. It is based on the historical and artistic holdings of Altos Hornos de Vizcaya. The name Altos Hornos de Vizcaya refers here to the holdings on which the exhibition is substantively and materially based.

Festivals and Market

The International Folklore Festival of Portugalete has taken place for more than 40 years at the same time as the Santiago Festival. It brings dancers from all over the world together. The timing alongside the Santiago Festival and the international participation are therefore two components of the same festival. The Virgen de la Guía celebration is maritime in origin. It takes place on 1 July in the Old Town of Portugalete, specifically on Calle Coscojales. The date, location and maritime origin are explicitly identified features of this celebration.

One of Bizkaia's oldest farmers' markets takes place weekly in the vicinity of the bandstand. Local produce is offered there. The market therefore combines its weekly schedule with the offer of local produce and the stated location by the bandstand.

Other Places

Other places on this page are Murueta, Butroi, Galdakao, Muskiz, Ermua, Abadiño, Sanfuentes and Mendieta.

Getting There

The metro station for travelling to the Bizkaia Bridge is called “Areeta/Portugalete”. The station is therefore specified under this name for travelling to the structure mentioned.

To the main travel overview: Bizkaia.