Bilbao is an ancient city with a 700-year history located along the Atlantic coast. Once an old industrial base and seaport in Spain, it played a significant role in life in Spain. Steel mills and shipyards were among the pillars of the city's economy. However, the industrial crisis 25 years ago, coupled with the great flood of 1983, pushed the city's economy to the brink of collapse. After decades of large-scale urban construction, the Bilbao of today has not only regained its youth but is also full of vitality and grandeur.
Everything changed with the establishment of the Guggenheim Museum in 1997. Designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao caused a global sensation with its wondrous shape, unique structure, and innovative materials. Walking the streets of Bilbao, one encounters distinctive bridges, beautiful plazas, and sculpted fountains, where European classicist architecture intertwines with modern fashion. One can frequently discover unique street art installations and storefronts full of novelty.
The museum covers an area of 24,000 square meters, with 11,000 square meters of exhibition space, primarily showcasing modern art. The exterior of the museum is composed of curved blocks, with complex and elegant titanium alloy curves that shimmer. As the sun moves, they reflect peculiar luster, and combined with the rippling blue waves of the river, the play of light and shadow makes it the most brilliant scenery in the city center.
In front of the Guggenheim Museum stands "Puppy," the shared pet of the people of Bilbao. "Puppy" is covered with more than 2,000 pots of fresh flowers. To ensure the flowers are always in bloom, specialized staff change them according to the season—a task requiring great dedication. However, when winter arrives and the flowers are gone, "Puppy" transforms into an aluminum alloy dog.
Influenced by the "Guggenheim Effect," Bilbao has successfully transitioned from a declining industrial city to one of the best cities in Europe for living, tourism, and investment, attracting a large number of immigrants to Spain. With 4 million visitors annually, Bilbao has built airports, subways, and new terminals, becoming a new cultural and artistic center in Europe and honored by the world as the City of Design.