By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises
After a relaxing day at sea across the top of northern Spain, we have arrived at Bilbao.
The city is on the northern coast of the Iberian Peninsula about 19 kilometers or 12 miles from the Bay of Biscay, the largest municipality of the autonomous community of the Basque Country.
Depending on your political point of view, that makes it either a part of Spain…or a place within Spain. It is an issue that remains highly contentious in (or within) the country’s various regions.
It is believed the Basques are the distant descendants of some of the earliest inhabitants of Western Europe. Genetic studies indicate Basque tribes predated the arrival of planned agriculture in the Iberian Peninsula, about 7,000 years ago.
Today, Bilbao is most known for its museum centerpiece: the Guggenheim Bilbao, designed by architect Frank Gehry and opened in 1997.
Built alongside the Nervion River, which runs through the city of Bilbao, it is one of several museums belonging to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.
It features permanent and visiting exhibits of modern art works by Spanish and international artists.
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All photos by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.
The museum came about because of an effort by the autonomous Basque government to have a rebirth of the city’s decrepit port area.
In 1981, the government offered to fund a Guggenheim museum, covering the $100 million U.S. cost of construction, a $50 million acquisitions fund, and to subsidize the annual budget.
Not a bad deal if you’re a foundation looking to add a new museum to your collection.
Now, I realize I am somewhat out of the mainstream in my appraisal, but for what it is worth: I am not a fan of Frank Gehry.
His buildings, to me, always look like the aftermath of some terrible industrial accident.
But the Guggenheim Bilbao, to me, is among his better works.
And the glories of Bilbao are reflected in its metallic shell.
All photos and text Copyright 2018 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.
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