Bilbao, city and seaport in northern Spain, on the Nervión River, near the Bay of Biscay, capital of Vizcaya Province, in the Basque Country autonomous region. Bilbao consists of an old section, on the right bank of the Nervión, and a modern section, dating from the late 19th century, on the left bank. Several bridges connect the old and new sections. Several railroads and highways and an international airport serve Bilbao. A subway system opened in 1995. One of the major industrial centers of Spain, the city is within a large iron-ore mining region. The chief industries are shipbuilding and the manufacture of cement, chemicals, foodstuffs, iron and steel, machinery, paper, and textiles. Bilbao is an important seaport, and iron ore, cereal grains, and wine are major exports. The chief imports are coal and timber. The Semana Grande is a major bullfighting event held in Bilbao each August.
The city has several churches, among them the Gothic Church of Santiago, which dates from the 14th century. It also has a number of museums, including a collection of archaeological finds relating to the history of the Basques. In October 1997 the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, with its collection of modern art, opened on Bilbao's waterfront. Among the city's educational institutions is the University of Deusto, a Jesuit university founded in 1886. The author and philosopher Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo was born in Bilbao.
