Bilbao & Basque Region

by Andy Symington

Overview

The land of the Basques is a vibrant place with an intoxicating spirit. Whether you're taking in the culture in Bilbao, grazing on elaborate pintxos in San Sebastian or exploring the rugged coast, Footprint's Bilbao&Basque Region Handbook covers all the top attractions in this quirky area, plus tips for getting off the beaten track.

• Practicalities section with essential advice on getting there and getting around

• Highlights map and inspirational color section, so you know what not to miss

• Comprehensive listings including where to eat, sleep and relax - whatever your budget

• Detailed street maps for Bilbao, San Sebastian and Vitoria

Slim enough to pop in your pocket

Packed with advice and information, this concise, pocket-size Footprint Handbook will help you get the most out of Bilbao and the Basque Region without weighing you down.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781911082491
Publisher:	Bradt Travel Guides Ltd
Publication date:	04/28/2017
Series:	Footprint Handbooks
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	18 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Andy Symington hails from Australia and, after much time spent prowling and working in various corners of the world, he settled in Spain, where he has now lived for several years. He is enamoured of the art, architecture, wildernesses, and tapas of Andalu

Read an Excerpt

Europe’s oldest people are in many ways Spain’s most modern, always a step ahead of the rest in social attitudes, gastronomy and urban planning. The land of the Basques is a vital, optimistic place with an intoxicating spirit.

Without getting drawn into the independence debate, Euskadi (the Basque name for this region) doesn’t feel very Spanish. Even the most imperialistic of the Madrid establishment refer to it as ‘El País Vasco’, the Basque Country. Things are certainly different here; there’s a strange language on road signs that would break Scrabble scoring records, weird sports are played to packed houses, it rains an awful lot and a subtle vibrancy infects even the most mundane of daily tasks.

The region’s biggest city, Bilbao, has managed superbly to reinvent itself from declining industrial dinosaur to cultured European metropolis. The Guggenheim museum is a powerful symbol of this, but it’s the vision that put it there that is even more invigorating. San Sebastián, meanwhile, is perennially popular for its superb natural setting and wonderful gourmet scene, and Vitoria, the peaceful Basque capital, is also very appealing.

Euskadi isn’t very large, which means that most rural areas are within easy reach of the three cities. The rugged coast has a few excellent beaches and some very personable fishing ports. Inland, medieval towns still preserve an excellent architectural heritage, while Laguardia, by happy coincidence, is both one of the most attractive walled towns in Northern Spain and an important centre of the Rioja wine region. Outside the towns, the green hills and rocky peaks of this corner of the peninsula are an invitation into the open air.

Table of Contents

1) San Sebastían/Donostia – Parte Vieja (Old Town), Centro and New Town, Gros; Guipúzcoan Coast – East of San Sebastían, West of San Sebastían; Vizcayan Coast – Ondarroa, Lekeito, Gernika/Guernica, Mundaka and Bermeo, Bilbao/Bilbo – Casco Viejo, Deustu, El Ensanche; Vitoria/Gasteiz – Casco Medieval, New Town; Alava Province – La Rioja Alavesa, Wineries.