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Wise Pilgrim APPPortugalete was Bilbao's main rival for port supremacy in the medieval period — a competition it lost early on. What remains is a compact, atmospheric old town with medieval arches and narrow streets that feel like a miniaturized version of the capital.
The Puente de Vizcaya (Puente Colgante) is the main attraction — the world's first transporter bridge, built in 1893 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gondola carries pedestrians and vehicles across the river every eight minutes. Walking across the upper walkway (if you have a head for heights) provides better views.
The 15th-century Basílica de Santa María, the Torre de Salazar, and the town hall are all worth a glance as you pass through. The old town's medieval layout, stacked on a hillside above the river, is more charming than the industrial surroundings suggest.
La Virgen de la Guía is celebrated on the 1st of July, San Roque and La Virgen from August 15th to 17th.
The Puente de Vizcaya was designed by Alberto de Palacio, a student of Gustave Eiffel, and opened in 1893. It was the first transporter bridge ever built — a solution to the problem of connecting the two banks of a shipping river without blocking tall-masted vessels. The UNESCO designation came in 2006, recognizing it as an outstanding example of 19th-century engineering.
The route from Portugalete to La Arena is almost entirely on paved surfaces, and getting out of the expanses of the city require twisting and turning your way around and under the complex network of highways that crowd out green space. Much of the trail is along a dedicated bike path, separated from the highway by a tall glass divider and decorated with the silhouettes of birds. This bike path is part of a larger network of paths that connect many of the suburbs, so pay close attention at every junction. See notice below for possible confusion near La Arena.
