The leaning arch
One white arc holding the curve on its strings.
Basotxerri — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Basotxerri — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Basotxerri — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Basotxerri — CC BY-SA 4.0
Zubizuri — "white bridge" in Basque — is Calatrava's leaning arch over the Nervión: a single tilted white arc suspending a curved footdeck on cables like the modern city's harp strings, its glass floor the cause of Bilbao's most famous small war (rain made it a skid — the city carpeted it, the architect raged worldwide). It is the obligatory photo passage between old town and Guggenheim: Isozaki's towers gate the hills from its foot, and the river walk reaches the titanium in ten minutes. Its five crossing minutes make lasting pictures — the blue-lit arch over the night river the finest of them.
One white arc holding the curve on its strings.
Blue light over the Nervión — Bilbao's night shot.
Campo de Volantín, 48007 Bilbao
Guggenheim Museum BilbaoThe museum of modern and contemporary art that changed the fortunes of an entire7 minutes walk4.6
Artxanda FunicularThe Artxanda funicular lifts all Bilbao to your eyes: three minutes since 1915 f8 minutes walk4.3
Church of San Nicolás de BariA Baroque church at the northern entrance to Bilbao's old town, directly facing 10 minutes walk4.4
Azkuna Zentroa (Alhóndiga)The Alhóndiga was the city's wine warehouse (1909) — until Philippe Starck turne12 minutes walk4.4
Plaza Miguel de UnamunoA square in the old town named after the philosopher and writer Miguel de Unamun13 minutes walk4.3Calatrava's glass deck: theoretically lovely, practically a rain-skid — in a city raining a third of the year. The council laid anti-slip carpet; the architect sued for 'mutilation' — and in essence lost. The bridge stays beautiful, the carpet practical, the tale a lesson in art meeting weather.