Bilbao is a town I had wanted to visit for a long time, simply to visit Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Building.
I flew to Bilbao for a couple of days in 2007 to explore what has been described as the greatest building of the 20th Century.
I had a similar feeling though to the one I experienced when I first visited the Guggenheim in New York, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The art exhibits competed with the sculptural building in which they were housed.
What an amazing space - walking around the building, it looks like anything from
a whale to the folds of Marilyn Monroe's
dress, to a ship, to whatever your imagination runs to. Inside, as well as
Richard
Serra's Matter of Time and a few other permanent pieces, there is
usually a special exhibition. And at the front of the building - or was it the
back of the building, Jeff Koon's fabulous puppy sculpture covered in flowers
stands guard.
Bilbao has been transformed by the Guggenheim, which is now 10 years old, and revived itself with some brilliant modern architecture and sculpture - from Calatrava's pedestrian bridge over the river, or his new airport in the shape of a dove, to the modern riverside concert hall, the pop art numeric and love sculptures by Robert Indiana, and the metro entrances designed by Norman Foster.
Bilbao is not all about modern architecture though as it has a traditional old Spanish city, with narrow streets, traditional buildings and a plaza full of cafes where people watch the world go by.
Bilbao was a real surprise - I know I missed out on sights having spent so much time at the Guggenheim, but it's not something I regret for one instant!