Bilbao (pop. 350,000) is for the most part a modern city that has not
forgotten its historic roots. The city thrived during the Middle Ages, as it was on both a
major bsea route and on the hCamino de Santiago. After a couple of fairly quiet
centuries, nearby lucrative mineral deposits were discovered in the 19th century, and the
city grew as both a seaport and an industrial center, known mainly as a producer of steel
and the Basque country’s economic hub. In the late 20th century, the steel industry
declined and Bilbao began to experience some urban decay; it was lovingly known as “the
Pittsburgh of Spain. “ Over the last couple of decades, Bilbao has been thoroughly
revitalized, due mostly to the transformation of industrial zones into parks and cultural
spaces like Frank Gehry’s architecturally marvelous Guggenheim Museum. The “Guggenheim
Effect” has propelled Bilbao back to the top of the proverbial heap economically and as a
tourist destination.