Sestao: Blast Furnace, Architectural History and Río Galindo

Sestao is home to Horno Alto Nº1, today the only surviving blast furnace of Altos Hornos de Vizcaya. It was inaugurated in November 1959; the blast furnace is 80 metres high.

Industry and Architecture

Casa La Galana was built in 1892 to a design by Francisco Berriozabal. Its rectangular floor plan measures 38 metres in length and 9.5 metres in depth. The Parroquia de Santa María has a neoclassical portico on the outside. The portico’s round arches rest on columns.

The building details of Casa La Galana make its proportions immediately apparent: the floor plan is clearly longer than it is deep and follows a distinct rectangular shape. At the Parroquia de Santa María, by contrast, the portico, round arches and columns define the exterior design. Together with the preserved blast furnace, these represent different aspects of Sestao’s architectural history.

History and Guided Tours

The Workers’ Route “El Laberinto del Hierro: 5 kilómetros de historia obrera” is five kilometres long. It explains the development of industrial Sestao through housing problems and new construction, as well as labour conflicts. Factories and urban social spaces are also among the themes of this route.

In terms of content, the route moves from housing problems and new construction to labour conflicts, and then on to factories and urban social spaces. As a result, industrial history is presented not only through individual buildings, but also through the development of the town and life in its urban surroundings.

The Sestao Tourist Office offers free guided tours one Saturday a month. The tours focus on the history and the main sights of Sestao.

The Tourist Office’s guided tours combine the town’s history with its main sights. Their monthly Saturday schedule thus complements the themed Workers’ Route with an offering explicitly focused on Sestao’s history and defining places.

Water and Routes

There is a new landing stage at the Dársena de La Benedicta. It is intended to restore Sestao’s historic landing place on the estuary and encourage visitors to arrive by water.

The landing stage at the Dársena de La Benedicta thus refers both to the former function of the historic landing place and to the estuary as the town’s connection to the water. Its stated aim is to restore this landing place and promote the arrival of visitors by water.

The Camino de la Costa runs from the Barakaldo area along the right bank of the Río Galindo to Sestao. It crosses an old iron bridge over the Río Galindo and continues through Sestao to the town hall.

This route connects the Barakaldo area, the right bank of the Río Galindo and the town of Sestao. The old iron bridge marks a distinct section before the Camino de la Costa continues through Sestao to the town hall.

Museums and Palaces

Museo Rialia is a museum in the immediate vicinity of Sestao. Torre de Salazar is also a museum in the immediate vicinity of Sestao.

Artaza Palace is a palace in the immediate vicinity of Sestao. Edificio Bidearte is also a palace in the immediate vicinity of Sestao.

Beaches

Playa Areeta is a beach in the immediate vicinity of Sestao. Ereaga is also a beach in the immediate vicinity of Sestao.

Playa Getxo is a beach in the vicinity of Sestao. Gorrondatxa is also a beach in the vicinity of Sestao.

The destinations mentioned in the immediate surroundings include two museums, Museo Rialia and Torre de Salazar, as well as two palaces, Artaza Palace and Edificio Bidearte. As for the beaches, the area mentioned extends from Playa Areeta and Ereaga to Playa Getxo and Gorrondatxa.

Other Places

Other destinations to explore include Sanfuentes, Erandio, Barakaldo, Gatika, Busturi-Axpe, Urriola, Plentzia and Basauri.

For the wider travel overview: Bizkaia.